Erice asks SC to cite Garcia in contempt for comment on MIRU petition

Former lawmaker Edgar Erice on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to cite Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia in contempt for supposedly violating the sub judice rule.

In a 3-page motion, Erice said Garcia violated the sub judice rule when he made a statement on an earlier petition filed by Erice asking the High Court to declare null and void the contract between Comelec and South Korean firm Miru Systems for the 2025 elections.

In his comment, as cited by Erice, Garcia said Comelec may “resort to a manual 2025 national and local polls should the SC issue a ruling against Miru systems.”

“The sub judice rule restricts comments and disclosures pertaining to judicial proceedings to avoid prejudging the issue, influencing the court, or obstructing the administration of justice,” Erice said.

“In making the above statements, Chairman Garcia, speaking in his capacity as Chairman of the Comelec, threatened this Court that an adverse ruling will result to a return to the conduct of a manual election,” he added.

When sought for comment, Garcia said he had no intention to influence the court.

“Hindi po. No intention to influence the Court but merely to state a fact,” he said in a message to GMA News Online.

The chairperson said he also only sought to inform the public on the poll body’s progress regarding the elections.

“Ako, may dahilan kung bakit nagsasalita. Dahil kailangan ng tao ng update sa eleksyon mula sa Comelec. Sino ba ang kabi-kabila ang presscon? Sino ba ang petitioner sa kaso sa SC?” he said.

(I have a reason to talk. Because the public needs updates from the Comelec about the election. But who’s the one who keeps holding press conferences? Who’s the one who has a petition before the SC?)

Erice, meanwhile, described Garcia’s comment as "downright irresponsible behavior.”

He also said that he found several "red flags" in the contract. 

“Napakaraming mga kaduda-dudang mga pangyayari. Ni-rig ‘yung bidding. Kung meron pong may kasalanan dito, walang iba kung hindi ang Comelec,” he said. 

(There are a lot of questions about the contract. The bidding may have been rigged. If there is anyone to blame, it's Comelec.) 

Erice said that he will also file graft charges against Comelec officials, including the bids and awards committee.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News