Court orders Pres. Roxas mayor to step down

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — A Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge has ordered President Roxas, Capiz Mayor Receliste “Tanoy” Escolin to step down after ruling in favor of the quo warranto petition filed against him.

In a 20-page decision dated November 10, 2025, Judge Joanne Marie Betita of RTC Branch 15 declared Escolin ineligible to run for reelection after completing three consecutive terms, disqualifying him from holding the mayoral post.

“Respondent Receliste ‘Tanoy’ Escolin is hereby found to be ineligible to run for Mayor of the Municipality of President Roxas, is hereby disqualified from holding said position,” the court stated, ordering him to cease performing the functions of mayor.

The court also declared the office of the mayor vacant and directed that it be filled in accordance with Section 44(a) of the Local Government Code, which outlines the rules on permanent vacancies in elective posts.

The petition was filed by former Sangguniang Bayan member Bart Locsin, one of Escolin’s three opponents in the last mayoral race.

A quo warranto case is a special civil action challenging a person’s legal authority to hold a public office.

Escolin had argued that his term was interrupted by a 90-day suspension imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman due to simple misconduct.

However, the court disregarded the interruption claim, asserting that it did not break the continuity of his three-term limit.

After Escolin filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) in October 2024, two incumbent and one former barangay officials also petitioned for its cancellation, citing an exceeded term limit.

Escolin maintained that the suspension broke the continuity of his term.

“Pinaintindi rin natin ang ating term na na-interrupt. Hindi natin na straight sa three consecutive terms bilang mayor ng President Roxas,” Escolin said.

He claimed the court had no jurisdiction over the case and argued that the ruling was premature.

“To the people of Pres. Roxas, I’m still the mayor and continue to act as the chief executive of the town until it becomes final,” Escolin said in a November 11 media interview.

He said he will file a motion for reconsideration once he receives a copy of the ruling.

Escolin was reelected in the last election with 9,893 votes, defeating Locsin (7,787 votes), former Vice Mayor Botoy Asis (317 votes), and Von Geise (9 votes).

According to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)–Capiz, Escolin will remain mayor while the petition for COC cancellation remains pending with the COMELEC central office.

“In as far as the Provincial Office ng COMELEC is concerned, hindi kasi ito dumaan sa amin kundi diretso nag-file sa Manila. Pero kung i-base natin ang fact na naano siya, na-proclaim being the winning candidate sa pagka-mayor sa President Roxas, meaning nito, walang order of suspension of proclamation. It is safe to say na pending pa ang case niya,” said Atty. Salud Milagros Villanueva, election supervisor of COMELEC Capiz.