RTC judge faces admin raps over election dispute
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An administrative complaint has been filed by Rosales, Pangasinan Vice Mayor John Isaac Kho before the Supreme Court’s Judicial Integrity Office against Presiding Judge Roselyn Andrada-Borja of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 53 in Rosales, Pangasinan, in connection with the ongoing dispute over the May 2025 vice mayoral election.
The complaint comes alongside a preliminary injunction issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on 18 February, preserving the status quo in the contested race while the matter undergoes review.
The administrative case stemmed from the RTC’s reversal of Kho’s initial victory over Susan Casareno following a manual recount, despite the Automated Counting Machine (ACM) originally declaring Kho the winner by 1,208 votes.
In its ruling, the court stated: “The automated counting machines did not accurately read and count the votes cast by the voters. There were complaints by voters that their Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) or printed voter’s receipt did not match the actual vote they cast.”
Kho’s move raises concerns over consistency, fairness, and adherence to proper judicial procedure in the handling of election protests.
The complaint alleges gross ignorance of the law and procedure, manifest bias, and violations of the New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary. It cites A.M. No. 01-8-10-SC (Rule 140) and A.M. No. 23-12-05-SC, which enumerate serious charges, including engagement in partisan political activities and failure to observe proper judicial procedure, as grounds for possible administrative sanctions.
Judge Andrada-Borja is reportedly among the applicants for a justice position in either the Sandiganbayan or the Court of Tax Appeals.
“This is not personal. It is about accountability, adherence to the law, and protecting the integrity of the judicial process,” Kho’s camp said.
The Comelec injunction issued on 18 February preserves the status quo and prevents the implementation of the court’s earlier ruling in favor of Casareno while the case remains pending.
Kho’s camp added: “The preliminary injunction ensures that these issues are carefully reviewed before any final determination. Public trust in electoral outcomes depends on both accurate vote counting and the impartiality of those who oversee the process.”
