The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a Certificate of Finality confirming the disqualification of Tarlac City Mayor Susan Areno Yap-Sulit, after she failed to secure a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the Supreme Court within the five-day period allowed by law.
In a three-page en banc order signed by Atty. Michael L. Garcia, Acting Clerk of the Commission, the Comelec cited Section 9 of Resolution No. 11046 in relation to Section 13(b), Rule 185 and Section 3, Rule 376 of the 1993 Comelec Rules of Procedure, which state that a decision of the Commission en banc becomes final and executory five days after receipt unless restrained by the Supreme Court.
“No restraining order has been issued by the Supreme Court within five days from receipt of the parties of the Resolution that would preclude the 22 October 2025 Resolution of this Commission (En Banc) from being final and executory,” the order said.
As a result, the Comelec declared Yap-Sulit ineligible to be elected as mayor of Tarlac City and annulled her proclamation, citing that her assumption into office has no legal basis following her disqualification.
The poll body also directed that, pursuant to Section 44 of the Local Government Code, Vice Mayor Katrina Theresa “KT” Angeles shall automatically assume the post of mayor due to the permanent vacancy. Angeles is expected to take her oath as mayor before local officials in the coming days.
Yap-Sulit’s disqualification stemmed from a petition for disqualification filed by rival candidate Atty. Jerome Lapeña, who alleged that Yap falsely declared her residence in her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) as Immaculate Concepcion Subdivision, Barangay Tibag, Tarlac City — a claim disputed by the Barangay Council of Tibag, which issued a certification stating she was not a resident of the barangay.
The Comelec First Division earlier ruled in Lapeña’s favor, finding material misrepresentation in Yap-Sulit’s COC — a ground for disqualification under Section 78 of the Omnibus Election Code. The decision was upheld by the Comelec en banc on 22 October 2025, and is now final and executory.
With the ruling’s finality, Vice Mayor Angeles is poised to lead Tarlac City, while Yap-Sulit is expected to vacate the mayor’s office immediately pending formal turnover procedures.