MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is facing heightened pressure as the Supreme Court (SC) issues three more temporary restraining orders (TROs), further complicating its preparations for the upcoming elections.

In a recent decision, the SC En Banc ruled in Francis Leo Antonio Marcos v. Comelec, issuing a TRO that prevents the Comelec from declaring Marcos a nuisance candidate. 

This ruling stemmed from the Comelec’s determination that Francis Marcos did not show a genuine intent to run for office. 

Claiming an unverified connection to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s family, Marcos was permitted to run for senator in the 2022 elections, where he garnered 4,477,025 votes. 

The tribunal directed the election commission to respond to Marcos’s petition within five days of receiving the notice, with no extensions allowed.

Meanwhile, in the case of Noel Ebriega Rosal v. Comelec and Josefino Valenzuela Dioquino, the SC issued another TRO, blocking the Comelec from enforcing its resolutions cancelling Noel Rosal’s Certificate of Candidacy for Albay Governor. Rosal argued that the Comelec acted with undue urgency in disqualifying him. The high court has once again given the Comelec five days to respond to Rosal’s petition.

On Monday, the SC issued a TRO preventing the Comelec from implementing its resolutions that canceled Jonas C. Cortes’s Certificate of Candidacy for Mayor of Mandaue City in the 2025 national and local elections. 

The court also barred the Comelec from removing his name from the list of candidates. The Comelec and respondent Ervin E. Estardante were ordered to comment on the petition within 15 days.

The high court had earlier issued five TROs in different cases that halted the Comelec’s printing of ballots for the elections, which was later destroyed by the commission.

The newly released TROs further delay the Comelec’s preparations for the May 2025 elections, particularly the printing of ballots. However, according to Comelec Commissioner George Erwin Garcia, the printing will resume on January 22 “at all costs.” 

Garcia also said that the Comelec will comply with the TROs issued by the high court, even if it means a delay in ballot printing.

Despite the ruling, Garcia remains confident that the Comelec will meet its April 14 deadline for the printing of election ballots. Over 73 million ballots must be produced for the May elections.

“April 14 is still the target date. As for the Comelec, we will be able to do everything necessary to meet that target. That’s why we deputized the National Printing Office. We act faster that way,” Garcia said.