TARLAKENYO (Oct. 23, 2025) – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) En Banc has annulled the proclamation of Tarlac City Mayor Susan Areno Yap-Sulit, declaring her ineligible to hold the office due to a failure to meet the one-year residency requirement.
The decision, promulgated on Oct. 22, 2025, and publicly posted on the COMELEC’s official Facebook account on Oct. 23, marks a dramatic reversal in the electoral contest for the city’s top post. The case, docketed as Special Action No. 25-026 (DC), was brought by petitioners Amado S. De Leon and Jay-Ar Capulong Navarro.
The COMELEC En Banc found that Yap-Sulit was not a resident of Barangay Tibag, Tarlac City, for the period required by law, rendering her ineligible to be elected as Mayor. This finding overturned an earlier ruling from the COMELEC Second Division, which had initially dismissed the disqualification petition.
In its new decision, the En Banc granted the petitioners’ motion for reconsideration, agreeing with their argument that Yap-Sulit failed to comply with the mandatory one-year residency requirement under Section 39(a) of the Local Government Code.
With the annulment of her proclamation, the rule on succession as outlined in Section 44 of the Local Government Code will now be followed. This means the Vice Mayor of Tarlac City is expected to assume the post of Mayor.
