Comelec en banc affirms Erice’s disqualification
Former Caloocan lawmaker Edgar Erice. —Photo from his Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc affirmed the second division decision to disqualify former Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Egay Erice from seeking a House of Representatives comeback.
In a decision furnished to the media on Friday, the poll body en banc dismissed the motion for reconsideration (MR) filed by Erice last Dec. 2.
The Comelec division previously disqualified Erice over his claims about its joint partnership with a South Korean election systems provider.
READ: Erice, supporters hold demonstration against Comelec’s disqualification
“Respondent has directly attacked the general conduct of the elections with his indiscriminate accusations and comments calculated to disrupt the electoral process and confuse voters,” the 30-page resolution read.
Comelec en banc noted that Erice “seems to imply” that his accusations against the Commission are protected speech, but it said that he is “mistaken.”
“To our mind, the Commission (Second Division) correctly ruled in the affirmative.”
“WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Commission en banc affirms the Commission (Second Division) resolution Dated 26 November 2024 insofar as it declared respondent EDGAR R. ERICE as DISQUALIFIED as a candidate for the position of Member, House of Representatives in the 2nd District of Caloocan for the 12 May 2025 National and Local Elections,” it further said.
Erice previously said it is unlikely for the Comelec en banc to reverse the division ruling.
“I am still filing because that is the process,” Erice said in an ambush interview after filing his MR last Dec. 2. “I cannot directly file to the Supreme Court if I am not exhausting all of my remedies.”
Erice could contest his disqualification case in the Supreme Court (SC).
Last April, Erice asked the SC to stop Comelec from implementing its P17.9 billion Automated Election System contract with Miru Systems Co. Ltd. and their partners for the 2025 national and local elections.
Erice said the contract violates the provisions of Republic Act 7369, or the Automated Election Law, specifically the provisions on bidding procedures and the use of prototype machines during elections.
