No TRO yet on Escolin disqualification case

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Mayor Receliste “Tanoy” Escolin continues to hold office as mayor of President Roxas, Capiz, while awaiting a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court in connection with his disqualification case.

In an interview on Thursday, Jan. 29, Escolin said he is praying for the Supreme Court to act immediately on his petition for certiorari so he can have peace of mind.

He admitted having mixed emotions while waiting for the high court’s decision on whether it will rule in his favor.

“Whether it is favorable or not, I’m ready to accept it,” he said, adding that Vice Mayor Jefferson Pastrana will assume the position as chief executive under the rules of succession if the ruling goes against him.

This came after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc denied Escolin’s motion for reconsideration, affirming the cancellation of his certificate of candidacy for the 2025 national and local elections.

The motion for reconsideration, dated July 16, 2025, sought to overturn the July 11, 2025, resolution of the Comelec First Division, which canceled Escolin’s certificate of candidacy for violating the constitutional three-term limit for local elective officials.

In its six-page decision, the Comelec en banc ruled that Escolin had already served three uninterrupted consecutive terms as mayor of President Roxas, leaving no legal basis to reverse the earlier ruling.

“Considering the respondent already served an uninterrupted three consecutive terms as mayor of Pres. Roxas, we are constrained to deny the instant motion for reconsideration,” the commission said.

“Wherefore, in view of the foregoing, the Comelec en banc denies the motion for reconsideration dated July 16, 2025, filed by Escolin and affirms the resolution of the Comelec First Division dated July 11, 2025,” it added.

The decision was signed by Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia and six commissioners.

The Comelec First Division earlier granted the petition filed by village chiefs Richard Baltar and Arnulfo Degala, who argued that Escolin violated the three-term limit rule.

The commission ruled that a three-month suspension imposed on Escolin by the Office of the Ombudsman did not constitute an interruption of his term.

Escolin was suspended in February 2025 for simple misconduct but was later reelected and proclaimed mayor after the May 13, 2025, elections.

Escolin maintained that his term was not continuous, arguing that his temporary removal from office should be considered an interruption that would allow him to seek reelection.

Earlier, Atty. Wil Arceño, Capiz provincial election supervisor and concurrent Comelec-Western Visayas assistant regional director, said they are awaiting the final resolution of the case.

Arceño said the decision did not specify who would assume the mayoralty because the issue was not raised in the quo warranto petition.

He described the ruling as a “material disqualification,” noting that Escolin sought a fourth term despite the constitutional limit of three consecutive terms.

Arceño added that Escolin has five days to appeal the ruling before the Supreme Court and seek a temporary restraining order to remain in office.

If no such relief is granted, Arceño said the Department of the Interior and Local Government will enforce the decision and effect Escolin’s removal from office.