THE Supreme Court (SC) has nullified a resolution of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualifying former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player Florendo “Renren” de Ramos Ritualo Jr. from running as city councilor of San Juan City’s first district in next month’s midterm elections.
In a resolution dated February 25, 2025, the Court en banc granted Ritualo’s petition for certiorari as it reversed and set aside the Comelec’s resolution cancelling his certificate of candidacy (COC).
“The petition for certiorari is granted and the resolution dated December 12, 2024, of Comelec Second Division and the resolution dated December 23, 2024 of Comelec en banc are annulled and set aside,” the SC ruled.
“The petition to deny due course to or cancel the certificate of candidacy of Florendo De Ramos Ritualo, Jr. is denied. The temporary restraining order issued by the Court on January 14, 2025 is made permanent,” it added.
The poll body cancelled Ritualo’s COC decision based on a complaint filed by San Juan resident Annaliza Telada who alleged that the ex-PBA player is not a resident of San Juan city, and therefore, not qualified to run in the May elections.
The Comelec subsequently granted Telada’s petition and cancelled Ritualo’s COC, prompting the latter to elevate the case to the High Court.
The SC issued a TRO last January, halting the poll body from enforcing its resolution.
In its ruling, the SC said the complainant failed to prove that Ritualo intentionally made a false and deceptive representation regarding his residence qualification in his COC.
“The claim of materially false and deceptive representation must be supported by substantial evidence, which is sorely lacking in this case,” it said.
It noted that Ritualo presented extensive evidence that he is a San Juan resident.
“While the right to run for office is not absolute, it remains a substantive right of a citizen, which warrants protection under the principle of due process and the general dictates of the Constitution,” the SC said.
