Philippines, Feb. 10 -- The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that officers and directors of electric cooperatives do not automatically forfeit their positions when they file their certificates of candidacy (COCs).

In a decision by the SC's Third Division, the court nullified Section 2 of National Electrification Administration (NEA) Memorandum No. 2012-2016, which mandated that officers of electric cooperatives be deemed resigned upon the mere filing of their COCs.

The SC said electric cooperative officers remain private individuals despite the public nature of their functions.

"While the officers are elected by the members, they cannot be considered holding public appointive positions under the Omnibus Election Code," it said

The tribuna...