The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has ordered the enforcement of its decision disqualifying Tarlac City Mayor Susan Areno Yap-Sulit, after the Commission en banc ruled that she failed to meet the one-year residency requirement prior to the May 2025 elections.

In a resolution signed by COMELEC Chairman George Garcia and Commissioners Aimee Ferolino, Rey Bulay, Nelson Celis, and Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda Jr., the en banc granted the motion for reconsideration filed by Amado S. De Leon and Jay-Ar Capulong Navarro, reversing the Second Division’s earlier ruling that dismissed the disqualification case.

The Commission found substantial evidence proving that Yap-Sulit was not a resident of Barangay Tibag, Tarlac City, and therefore did not satisfy the residency requirement under Section 39(a) of the Local Government Code.

“The Commission finds that the petitioners have presented substantial evidence establishing that respondent is not a resident of Barangay Tibag, Tarlac City, and therefore does not meet the residency requirement prescribed under the law,” the ruling stated.

As a result, the COMELEC declared Yap-Sulit ineligible to serve as Mayor of Tarlac City and annulled her proclamation.

COMELEC Chairman Garcia confirmed that the poll body will coordinate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to withdraw Yap-Sulit’s proclamation and enforce the rule of succession for the vacant mayoralty post, in accordance with Section 44 of the Local Government Code.