The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday found Francis Leo Marcos, a candidate in the 2025 midterm elections, guilty of indirect contempt, imposing a ₱30,000 fine for “disrespecting” the dignity and authority of the Court.
Marcos withdrew his senatorial candidacy shortly after the Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in his favor, preventing the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) from excluding his name from the official ballots.
This act, the SC decided, “amounted to indirect contempt for misusing its processes and wasting its time.”
“It found his actions weakened public confidence in the electoral process and diminished the respect owed to judicial authority, effectively making a mockery of both the COMELEC and the SC,” the Court wrote in a press release.
Apart from the fine, the Court dismissed Marcos’ petition and lifted its TRO against the COMELEC.
Why did Marcos request a TRO?
The poll body had declared Marcos a nuisance candidate because of his lack of political affiliation and governmental platform. Additionally, he shares a surname with Senator Imee Marcos, which could have caused confusion among voters.
However, Marcos argued that the COMELEC violated his right to due process and equal protection and appealed to the High Court for a TRO.
In only two days, the COMELEC informed the SC that Marcos had withdrawn his candidacy. The Court ordered Marcos to explain why he should not be cited in contempt.
He apologized, explaining that he had chosen to withdraw his bid upon learning that ballot printing had already begun and including his name would delay the process and be costly.
“The SC dismissed his argument, saying that Marcos should have considered the consequences of filing a petition before the SC or withdrawing his candidacy immediately after obtaining a TRO,” the Court said.
The High Court declared that individuals “cannot simply bend the legal system to suit their personal whims,” asserting that this could compromise the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent of “chaos over order.”
