Comelec affirms Erice disqualification from May 2025 polls

The Commission on Elections (En Banc) upheld its decision to disqualify former Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice from running in the May 2025 elections.

In a resolution released on Friday, the Comelec cited Erice’s dissemination of “false and alarming” information as the basis for its ruling.

“The integrity of elections is the cornerstone of democracy, and any act that undermines this foundation cannot be tolerated. Respondent’s disqualification is not merely justified but necessary to protect the sanctity of our electoral process,” the resolution stated.

The Commission En Banc affirmed the Second Division's resolution dated November 26, 2024, which declared Erice disqualified as a candidate for the House of Representatives in Caloocan City’s 2nd District for the upcoming elections.

Erice filed his Certificate of Candidacy on October 7, 2024, but a petition filed by Raymond Salipot led to his disqualification.

Salipot alleged that Erice violated Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) by making “unsubstantiated yet disturbing and damaging statements” against the Comelec and the elections on various media platforms.

The controversy stems from Erice’s criticism of the P17.99-billion contract between Comelec and Miru Systems for the 2025 elections.

Erice has repeatedly urged the Supreme Court to declare the agreement null and void. In November, he submitted a supplement to an earlier petition seeking to annul the contract.

Additionally, Erice filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman accusing Comelec Chair George Garcia of graft and corruption over the Miru deal. — DVM, GMA Integrated News