Manila, Oct. 28 -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has cancelled the certificate of candidacy (COC) of Albay Governor Noel Rosal in the 2025 midterm elections, for misrepresentation.

In a 12-page decision, promulgated by the Comelec's Second Division on Oct. 21 but only made public on Tuesday, the poll body granted the petition filed by Adrian Loterte, a resident of Ligao City, Albay, to cancel the COC of Rosal.

"Accordingly, the votes cast in favor of respondent are considered stray," the decision read.

The ruling noted that the respondent misrepresented himself in his COC for claiming that he was eligible to run in the last polls despite having been convicted by the Office of the Ombudsman for grave misconduct on June 18, 2024 ...