The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) First Division has disqualified Datu Odin Sinsuat Vice Mayor Bobsteel Sinsuat from holding office after finding him liable for committing an election offense under the Omnibus Election Code.
In a 27-page resolution promulgated on March 13, 2026, the COMELEC First Division granted the petition for disqualification filed by former Datu Odin Sinsuat vice mayor Datu Sajid Sinsuat, who contested Sinsuat’s candidacy in the 2025 National and Local Elections.
The ruling declared Bobsteel Sinsuat disqualified from holding the position of vice mayor of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, for which he had already been proclaimed the winner during the 2025 polls.
According to the resolution, the poll body found Sinsuat liable for violating Section 261(e) of the Omnibus Election Code, which covers prohibited acts and election offenses related to the conduct of elections.
The decision cited evidence that allegedly showed Sinsuat committing the election offense and even declaring his intention during a live broadcast, which became part of the records reviewed by the Commission.
“For all these reasons, we find Respondent liable for the commission of Section 261(e) of the Omnibus Election Code, which warrants his disqualification,” the resolution stated.
The ruling was signed by Presiding Commissioner Aimee Ferolino and Commissioners Ernesto Ferdinand P. Maceda Jr. and Maria Norina S. Tangaro-Casingal.
Petition Filed in 2025
The disqualification case stemmed from a petition filed on May 14, 2025 by Datu Sajid Sinsuat under Section 68 in relation to Section 261(e) of the Omnibus Election Code and Section 1(c) of COMELEC Resolution No. 11046.
The complaint sought to bar Bobsteel Sinsuat from running for vice mayor in the municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat due to the alleged election offense.
After evaluating the evidence and records submitted by both parties, the COMELEC First Division ruled in favor of the petitioner, concluding that the violation warranted Sinsuat’s disqualification from the post.
Appeal to COMELEC En Banc
Despite the ruling, the vice mayor’s camp still has legal remedies available.
COMELEC has given Sinsuat five days to file a motion for reconsideration before the COMELEC en banc, the full commission that can review and either affirm or reverse the First Division’s decision.
In an interview with DXMS Radyo Bida, Sinsuat said he received the decision only earlier that morning and confirmed that he intends to challenge the ruling before the en banc.
As of this writing, no official statement has yet been released by Sinsuat’s camp detailing their legal strategy or addressing the allegations cited in the ruling.
Political Implications
The decision could have significant political implications in Datu Odin Sinsuat, one of the key municipalities in Maguindanao del Norte, particularly if the ruling becomes final and executory.
However, the outcome remains uncertain as the case is expected to move to the COMELEC en banc, which will make the final determination on the disqualification.
Election observers note that the case highlights the continuing scrutiny on alleged violations of election laws following the 2025 National and Local Elections, as the poll body continues to resolve pending election cases.
Further developments are expected once Sinsuat’s camp formally files its motion for reconsideration before the COMELEC en banc.