MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued cease-and-desist orders against Rosales, Pangasinan Vice Mayoral candidate Susan Casareno and the presiding judge of the local Regional Trial Court, preventing the implementation of a court ruling declaring Casareno the winner of the 2025 elections.

In a report, it said that the order, issued on February 18 by Comelec’s First Division, grants a preliminary injunction petition filed by Rosales Vice Mayor John Isaac Kho, citing potential “irreparable injury” should the RTC decision, which voided Kho’s victory following a physical recount, be implemented while still under appeal.

“From the facts shown by the parties in the subject case, it appears that great and irreparable injury would result to Petitioner [Kho] before the issue thereon can be resolved,” Comelec said in its order.

The writ instructs Public Respondent Judge Roselyn Andrada-Borja and all personnel under her supervision to refrain from implementing the November 28 and December 1, 2025 RTC rulings related to Election Protest Case No. 2025-001-R. Casareno is also enjoined from assuming the office of Municipal Vice Mayor until further orders.

“Pending the final resolution of the instant case, Petitioner Kho shall remain at his post as Municipal Vice Mayor of Rosales, Pangasinan,” the commission added. A bond of P100,000 was required from Kho for the injunction to take effect, to cover potential damages if the injunction is later overturned.

The move comes after House Deputy Majority Leader Marlyn Primicias Agabas raised concerns over the RTC decision, citing an alarming vote swing of 3,183 votes following a physical recount, which she said “could put the entire results of the 2025 polls in question.”

Agabas questioned both the accuracy of automatic counting machines and the integrity of the ballots in the physical recount. She called for a comprehensive investigation into discrepancies between machine counts and manual recounts, including ballot tampering allegations, chain-of-custody protocols, and access to ballot images and VVPAT data.

“If it can happen in Rosales, it can happen anywhere. Ang boto ng bawat Pilipino ay sagrado. Kapag nawala ang tiwala sa proseso ng halalan, natitibag din ang pundasyon ng ating demokrasya,” Agabas said.

Comelec has also instructed the Clerk of Court to issue the writ to enforce the injunction and has coordinated with the Department of the Interior and Local Government for its implementation.