MANILA – The Supreme Court has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on a ruling by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) canceling the certificate of candidacy of Darwin Sia.

Sia ran for councilor in the Manila 2nd District in the recently concluded 2025 midterm elections.  

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SC spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting made the announcement during a press briefing on Tuesday. 

Sia was the leading councilor with over 72,000 votes, but the Comelec suspended his proclamation pending the resolution of an election complaint him.

Comelec earlier affirmed the decision of the Second Division to cancel his COC.

Ting said the high court directed the Comelec and Larry B. Dela Cruz to file their comments on the petition within a non-extendible period of five days from receipt of notice.

Comelec disqualified Sia for material misrepresentation due to his 2014 conviction for electricity pilferage, which the poll body said is a crime involving moral turpitude.  

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Under the Omnibus Election Code, any person who has been sentenced with final judgment for a crime involving moral turpitude shall be disqualified to be a candidate or to hold any office.