Manila: 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.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Comelec granted the petition for disqualification filed by reelectionist Sinforoso 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.

The ruling stated, "Accordingly, the Petition for Disqualification is granted. Respondent Joseph Chua Cua is hereby disqualified as a candidate for municipal mayor of the municipality of Virac, Catanduanes."

The poll body noted that Cua failed to correct or clarify his citizenship status in official documents. His Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) birth certificate shows he was born in San Andres, Catanduanes, on October 16, 1962, but his prolonged absence from the country and inconsistent residency claims cast doubt on his qualifications.

"Upon calculation, and assuming that Respondent was a resident of the Philippines since birth, he should have been a resident herein for 62 years and six months on the day before the 12 May 2025 NLE (National and Local Elections). However, as it appears, Respondent has been conspicuously absent for one year in the Philippines, something which he failed to explain. This gap in Respondent's residency casts doubt on his compliance with the residence requirement of his derivative naturalization," the Division said.

It further cited discrepancies in Cua's residency declarations. While claiming to have lived in Virac for more than 61 years, Cua previously served as mayor of his birthplace, San Andres, from 2001 to 2004.

"It would be mathematically impossible for him to reside in Virac for 61 years and six months while serving as mayor of another municipality," the Comelec stated.

"This raises even more serious questions regarding the respondent's eligibility to run for any local elective position."

The poll body pointed out that possessing an identification certificate or being recognized by certain agencies as a Filipino does not conclusively establish citizenship. "Exercising rights exclusive to Filipinos does not automatically make one a citizen," it added, stressing that further credible evidence was lacking.