“Natanggap natin ang Notice mula sa Supreme Court… Ito ang patunay na patuloy ang ating laban para kilalanin ng Comelec ang boto ng taumbayan” – Atty. Comafay updates on his election case

Tabuk City, Kalinga – After months of pursuing his disqualification case, number one elected city councilor of Tabuk City, Atty. Errol Comafay, provided an update saying he has received a notice from the Supreme Court regarding the complaint filed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Paquito Sallaya, a barangay captain of Dupag, Tabuk City.

“Kahapon ay natanggap natin ang Notice na ito mula sa Supreme Court. Ito ang patunay na patuloy ang ating laban para kilalanin ng Comelec ang boto ng taumbayan. Ang mga botante ang dapat mamili ng mahahalal, hindi ang Comelec,” Comafay said in a Facebook post on December 23, 2025.

In the May 2025 Tabuk City elections, Comafay garnered 41,582 votes, making him the top vote-getter for city councilor. However, despite receiving the highest number of votes, he was not proclaimed after the Comelec disqualified him over alleged material misrepresentation regarding his residency. As a result, his votes were later considered stray under Comelec rules.

On October 16, 2024, Sallaya filed a petition under Section 78 of the Omnibus Election Code before the Comelec, shortly after Comafay filed his Certificate of Candidacy on October 6, 2024. Sallaya alleged that Comafay committed material misrepresentation by declaring a residential address in Bulanao, Tabuk City that allegedly did not exist, specifically citing “Taraki National Road, Purok 5, Bulanao.”

Comafay denied the allegations, insisting that he is a legitimate resident of Tabuk City. He filed a Motion for Reconsideration with the Comelec En Banc on February 12, 2025, and later elevated the case to the Supreme Court, arguing that the Comelec ruling was erroneous. Despite the pending case, Comafay continued campaigning and later emerged as the candidate with the highest number of votes.

Recently, in a notice issued by the Supreme Court of the Philippines (En Banc) regarding G.R. No. 279413 (Errol B. Comafay Jr. vs. Commission on Elections and Paquito B. Sallaya) dated November 4, 2025, the Court took note of a letter dated August 21, 2025 from officials of the Brotherhood of Saint Andrew, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Bulanao, Tabuk City, stating that Atty. Comafay is a resident of Tabuk City—contrary to the basis for his disqualification.

The letter also cited public confusion, noting that Comafay is widely known in the city as a lawyer, teacher, and environmentalist. The Court further considered as served a resolution dated May 20, 2025 addressed to private respondent Paquito B. Sallaya, despite it being returned unclaimed.

Additionally, the Court noted a motion filed on October 20, 2025 by Comafay’s counsel stating that Sallaya failed to file any comment despite ample time, and requested the Court to declare that Sallaya had waived his right to comment and to resolve the case without further delay.

Comafay said he is hopeful that the Supreme Court will decide in his favor for the people of Tabuk City.

Comafay is a known staunch critic of Tabuk City Mayor Darwin Estranero.