The Supreme Court allowed the petition of Chito Bulatao Balintay, a native from Zambales, to reverse the resolution of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that initially denied his certificate of candidacy (COC) for governor of Zambales for the May 2025 elections.
Balintay filed the COC on the last day of filing, 25 minutes before the closing of the Comelec filing of candidacy. This took root because the documents of the fifth copy and documentary stamps of Balintay were said to be lacking so he was advised to complete it first.
He said Balintay was only able to return three minutes later which was past the deadline of 5 P.M. so the Comelec rejected his filed COC based on the alleged provisions of section 37 of Comelec Resolution No. 11045.
In the issued resolution, the Supreme Court declared that the Comelec allegedly abused its discretion by not allowing Balintay to file his COC.
According to the Court, the Comelec must analyze whether its rules promote the interest of justice and equality.
The Court directed the Comelec to accept Balintay’s COC and include his name in the official ballot of Zambales gubernatorial candidates in the 2025 elections.
The SC previously issued a temporary restraining order on January 14, 2025 to prevent the Comelec from implementing its decision rejecting Balintay’s application.