COMELEC disqualifies Tarlac Mayor Susan Yap-Sulit over residency issue

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has disqualified Tarlac City Mayor Susan Yap-Sulit after finding that she is not a resident of Barangay Tibag, Tarlac City.

Yap, who served as the 31st governor of Tarlac from 2016 to 2025 and previously represented the province’s 2nd District from 2010 to 2016, faced a disqualification complaint for alleged “misrepresentation of material facts” in her certificate of candidacy (COC).

On her COC, Yap declared her residence at Barangay Tibag, but petitioners claimed the address was a warehouse, not a residential property.

The disqualification case, docketed as COMELEC SPA No. 25-026, was filed by Tibag Barangay Chairman Jay-Ar Navarro and former Provincial Board Member and City Councilor Amado Deleon.

In its en banc resolution, COMELEC ruled that the petitioners had “successfully established, through substantial evidence, that Yap-Sulit did not meet the mandatory residency period.”

“Respondent (Susan Yap-Sulit) is INELIGIBLE to be elected as Mayor of Tarlac City (due to not being a resident of Brgy. Tibag, Tarlac City),” the COMELEC said.

Deleon welcomed the ruling, saying, “At last, truth, justice, and the rule of law finally prevailed.”

Navarro also expressed relief, saying, “Sa wakas nagkaroon ako ng hustisya sa maraming panggigipit sa akin (ni Mayor Susan Yap). Muli na akong makakapagtrabaho para mapagsilbihan ang aking mga kabarangay.”

In April, Navarro was suspended for six months by the “Yap-controlled” Sangguniang Panlalawigan for refusing to issue a Certificate of Residency to Yap-Sulit. His suspension was later lifted in July by the new city council led by Vice Mayor KT Angeles.

“The proclamation of MAYOR Susan Yap-Sulit is annulled,” the COMELEC added in its decision.

In a social media post, Yap said she has not yet received an official copy of the resolution from the commission but vowed to contest the ruling once it is served.

“If my office receives a copy, I will use all legal means to fight for the truth,” she said.

“Sa kabila ng lahat, nananatiling buo ang aking loob at dedikasyon na maglingkod nang tapat at buong puso sa bawat Tarlaqueño,” Yap added.

Yap, a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), is the daughter of the late former Tarlac governor Jose “Aping” Yap Sr.