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Advocates Philippines
Kho Escalates Rosales Election Dispute Against RTC Judge To SC
File
Rosales, Pangasinan Vice Mayor John Isaac Kho is taking his battle over the May 2025 vice mayoral race to the Supreme Court, filing an administrative complaint against RTC Branch 53 Judge Roselyn Andrada-Borja with the Judicial Integrity Office.
The move comes amid ongoing legal wrangling and a Commission on Elections (Comelec) injunction issued on February 18, 2026, which preserves the status quo while the disputed election undergoes review.
Kho was first declared winner by 1,208 votes via Automated Counting Machines, but a manual recount later reversed the result in favor of Susan Casareno. The court noted:
“The automated counting machines did not accurately read and count the votes cast by the voters. There were complaints by voters that their Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) or Printed Voter's Receipt did not match the actual vote they casted.”
Kho’s complaint raises concerns over fairness, consistency, and adherence to judicial procedure. It alleges gross ignorance of the law, manifest bias, and violations of the New Code of Judicial Conduct, citing A.M. No. 01-8-10-SC (Rule 140) and A.M. No. 23-12-05-SC, which outline serious charges including partisan activity and procedural lapses.
Judge Andrada-Borja is reportedly seeking a position at the Sandiganbayan or the Court of Tax Appeals.
Kho’s camp stressed:
“This is not personal. It is about accountability, adherence to the law, and protecting the integrity of the judicial process.”
They also welcomed Comelec’s intervention:
“The preliminary injunction ensures that these issues are carefully reviewed before any final determination. Public trust in electoral outcomes depends on both accurate vote counting and the impartiality of those who oversee the process.”
The Judicial Integrity Office will review the complaint and may recommend action to the Supreme Court. Officials emphasized that filing a complaint does not automatically imply wrongdoing, and the case remains und
The move comes amid ongoing legal wrangling and a Commission on Elections (Comelec) injunction issued on February 18, 2026, which preserves the status quo while the disputed election undergoes review.
Kho was first declared winner by 1,208 votes via Automated Counting Machines, but a manual recount later reversed the result in favor of Susan Casareno. The court noted:
“The automated counting machines did not accurately read and count the votes cast by the voters. There were complaints by voters that their Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) or Printed Voter's Receipt did not match the actual vote they casted.”
Kho’s complaint raises concerns over fairness, consistency, and adherence to judicial procedure. It alleges gross ignorance of the law, manifest bias, and violations of the New Code of Judicial Conduct, citing A.M. No. 01-8-10-SC (Rule 140) and A.M. No. 23-12-05-SC, which outline serious charges including partisan activity and procedural lapses.
Judge Andrada-Borja is reportedly seeking a position at the Sandiganbayan or the Court of Tax Appeals.
Kho’s camp stressed:
“This is not personal. It is about accountability, adherence to the law, and protecting the integrity of the judicial process.”
They also welcomed Comelec’s intervention:
“The preliminary injunction ensures that these issues are carefully reviewed before any final determination. Public trust in electoral outcomes depends on both accurate vote counting and the impartiality of those who oversee the process.”
The Judicial Integrity Office will review the complaint and may recommend action to the Supreme Court. Officials emphasized that filing a complaint does not automatically imply wrongdoing, and the case remains und
Feb 22, 2026
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