FORMER Caloocan City representative Edgar Erice is facing allegations of making false and alarming statements regarding the May 2025 national and local polls after he repeatedly spoke against Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia as well as the poll body’s service provider, Miru Systems.
Angelo Balatbat and Raymond Salipot yesterday filed a “joint complaint-affidavit” against Erice at the Comelec Law Department asking the latter to look into the possible violation of the Omnibus Election Code.
“When taken together, Erice’s statements and actions reveal a clear and deliberate intention to spread misinformation and disrupt the election process. They demonstrate a strategic pattern aimed at eroding public trust and confidence in the electoral system by propagating false and alarming reports or information, thereby attempting to disrupt the electoral process,” said the petitioners.
“These concerted actions or statements are not merely instances of voicing concerns but are malicious efforts to spread misinformation, confuse voters, and obstruct the electoral process. Such behavior is detrimental to the integrity and orderly conduct of the elections and must be addressed to uphold the sanctity of the democratic process,” they furthered.
They said Erice’s acts constitute an election offense as defined under Section 261 (z) (11) of the Omnibus Election Code.
The provision states that it is prohibited for “any person who, for the purpose of disrupting or obstructing the election process or causing confusion among the voters, propagates false and alarming reports or information or transmits or circulates false orders, directives or messages regarding any matter relating to the printing of official ballots, the postponement of the election, the transfer of polling place or the general conduct of the election.”
“To our understanding, the above provision makes it illegal for anyone to spread false information or orders related to the election process if their intention is to disrupt the election, confuse voters, or interfere with the election in any way,” said the petitioners.
“We find Erice’s declarations to constitute an election offense as described above,” they added.
Among the questioned acts was Erice’s remark that the Philippines will be a “guinea pig” if it uses the voting machines to be provided by the firm Miru.
“By referring to the Philippines as a ‘guinea pig,’ he irresponsibly suggests uncontrolled experimentation, which he, however, failed to establish with credible proof,” said the complainants.
They also pointed at Erice’s narrative receiving a parcel from the Bahamas containing information on a certain Comelec official and his questionable offshore accounts, properties, and transactions.
“Erice’s failure to verify the authenticity of the documents before making public accusations demonstrates a reckless disregard for the truth,” the affidavit said.
In an interview, the petitioners’ legal counsel, Richard Rosales, said their joint complaint-affidavit essentially asked the Comelec Law Department to conduct a preliminary investigation against Erice.
“Our clients want to hold accountable ex-congressman Erice. The complainants think there is an election offense so they filed this,” he said.
“The Comelec will then file the case in court if they find a probable cause,” he added.
An election offense carries the penalty of one to six years imprisonment, disqualification to hold public office, and removal of right to suffrage.
