FORMER Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice yesterday filed a Motion for Reconsideration (MR) of his disqualification as a candidate in the May 2025 polls and asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc to inhibit from his case.
In his 10-page appeal, Erice asked the Comelec en banc to reverse the decision of its 2nd Division and allow him to run for congressman in the 2nd District of Caloocan City in the May 2025 elections.
“Edgar R. Erice respectfully prays of this Honorable Commission to reverse and set aside the Resolution dated 26 November 2024; and reinstate Respondent as a candidate for the position of Member of the House of Representatives for the 2nd District of Caloocan for the 12 May 2025 National and Local Elections,” he said in his MR.
He cited as reason the erroneous interpretation of the Comelec 2nd Division of his alleged election offense of “deliberately spreading false and alarming reports, and circulating misleading messages” on the electoral process.
“Erice could not have committed an election offense punished under the aforesaid Section without an actual election being conducted. Simply put, there should first be an actual election before there can be any violation,” he added.
He also stressed that the decision of the Comelec 2nd Division was spurred by the animosity felt by the poll officials towards him as he has been a staunch critic of the automated election system (AES) project between the Commission and its service provider, Miru Systems.
“Since Comelec Chairman Garcia and the other personalities Erice sued are public servants or engaged in public service, they must be prepared for public scrutiny, and potentially, criticisms inherent in the position,” said the MR.
He asked the members of the poll body to follow the actions of Comelec Chairman George Garcia and inhibit themselves from the case.
Garcia had earlier voluntarily inhibited from all matters related to the case against Erice to avoid any allegations of conflict of interest.
“Chairman George has inhibited, and that’s okay. But the other six commissioners are involved in the transactions with Miru too, and are also respondents in the cases I filed. Thus, they should also inhibit so that there will be a semblance of fairness,” said Erice in an interview.
Sought for a reaction, Garcia said the call for all members of the Commission en banc to inhibit has no logic because there will be no one left to rule on the MR.
“It lacks logic. If you file an MR but want everybody to inhibit, who will be left in the Commission to decide on the case?” Garcia said.
He welcomed Erice’s recognition of the Comelec’s jurisdiction on his case.
“The fact that he filed an MR means that he acknowledged that the Comelec has acquired jurisdiction on the case filed against him,” said Garcia.
