Dalawang mahalagang Temporary Restraining Order ang inilabas ng Korte Suprema upang ipatigil ang implementasyon ng COMELEC resolutions. Una. Comelec Resolution no. 11044-A “which bars dismissed public officials with perpetual disqualification from holding public office from filing a certificate of candidacy despite the pendency of an Appeal. Ang TRO ay inilabas sa kasong isinampa ni Former Albay Governor Noel Rosal “which seeks to nullifying Comelec Resolution no. 11044. Dinismiss from service ng COMELEC si Rosal “in an administrative case with an accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office. Rosal filed his COC for governor. Sa petition ni Rosal kung saan ang abogado niya ay si Atty. Romulo Macalintal “Existing Jurisprudence or decisions of the Supreme Court and even existing Comelec policy, have been very consistent in previous elections that the said penalty of perpetual disqualification applies only once the decision of the Ombudsman becomes final and executory. Ito rin ang arguments nila Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes at Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama. Dahil may TRO ang Korte Suprema ay maari pang maghain ng kandidatura ang tatlo at ang iba pang apektado ng Comelec Resolution kahit na may perpetual disqualification na sila hangga’t hindi pa final and executory ang disqualification. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit kahit may mga conviction na ang ilang opisyal na may perpetual disqualification ay nakakatakbo at nauupo pa rin sa puesto.
Nais sana ng Comelec na ang mga perpetually disqualified “pending appeal” ay hindi na makakandidato. Parang sa labor cases o ejectment, na ang desisyon ay executory pending appeal. Isa pang mahalagang TRO order ng Korte Suprema is against a recent ruling of the COMELEC allowing public appointive officials to continue holding office even after being nominated as party-list representatives. Ang Comelec Resolution 11045 section 11 na TRO ay nagsasaad na “public officials who accept a nomination as a party list representative may continue to hold office even after acceptance of their nomination. Kahit nominado ng isang party list ang isang appointed official pwede siyang hindi siya magbitiw sa puwesto dahil ang kandidato ay hindi ang nominado kundi ang party list. Pero sa TRO ng SC, kapag ang isang appointed government official ay nominado sa party list, dapat siyang mag-resign. Sana ay mapagpasyahan ito agad ng Korte Suprema bago magsimula ang Campaign Period ng 2025 elections. — AAEI
