The Supreme Court has ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to accept the certificate of candidacy (COC) of Aeta leader Chito Bulatao Balintay for the position of governor of Zambales in the 2025 elections.
Along with this, the SC also directed that Balintay’s name be included in the official ballot for the election.
The SC’s decision overturns the previous ruling of Comelec, which disallowed Balintay’s COC filing due to missing documents. According to the SC, the Comelec gravely abused its discretion by not allowing Balintay to file his candidacy.
According to reports, Balintay filed his COC on the last day of filing, just 25 minutes before the deadline. However, it lacked the required fifth copy and documentary stamps, prompting election officials to advise him to complete the documents. He returned after 5 PM, past the deadline, leading to the rejection of his COC.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court emphasized that Comelec must assess whether its rules truly serve the interests of justice and fair play.
“The SC ruled that the Comelec gravely abused its discretion when it did not allow Balintay to file his COC. It held that the Comelec should reexamine whether its rules serve the interest of justice and fair play,” the SC stated.
The SC further noted that elections do not occur under perfect conditions, so Comelec must be prepared to make swift decisions in response to unforeseen circumstances that could undermine or subvert the will of the voters. Considering these factors and Balintay’s unique situation, the SC found Comelec’s strict application of its rules unjustified, warranting a reversal of its decision.
As of now, Comelec is expected to implement the Supreme Court’s order and include Balintay in the official list of candidates for the Zambales gubernatorial race.