Manila, July 12 -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) 1st Division has disqualified Joseph Chua Cua from the May 2025 midterm elections due to unresolved issues surrounding his citizenship, even though he lost in the race for mayor of Virac, Catanduanes.

In a 10-page decision promulgated on Friday and released to the media on Saturday, the Comelec granted the petition for disqualification filed by reelectionist Sinfroso Sarmiento, who alleged that Cua is not a Filipino citizen but a Chinese national, rendering him ineligible to run for public office.

Cua, a former governor of Catanduanes, lost to Sarmiento.

"Accordingly, the Petition for Disqualification is granted. Respondent Joseph Chua Cua is hereby disqualified as a candidate f...