Candidates with pending DQ cases to stay on reprinted ballots

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday resumed ballot printing for the 2025 elections, including the name of Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro on the ballot for the city’s 1st District congressional race despite a pending disqualification case.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia clarified that the names of candidates with pending motions and disqualifications, including Teodoro, will remain on the ballot until the commission en banc issues a final decision.

The poll body previously ruled that Teodoro misrepresented his place of residence in his candidacy documents.

“As long as Comelec has no final and executory decision over the matter, all the names of the candidates are still in the ballot and if it is still not resolved come election day, all votes for those candidates will be considered as valid votes,” Garcia said.

Garcia previously said that the Comelec can only remove a candidate’s name from the ballot after a final and executory decision from the en banc with a corresponding certificate of finality.

He also noted the possibility of the en banc reversing the division’s decision if Teodoro presents new arguments or evidence in his motion for reconsideration.

Ballot printing was delayed for three weeks due to temporary restraining orders issued by the Supreme Court on the petitions of several disqualified candidates.