MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Second Division has ruled to disqualify former Caloocan Representative Edgar “Egay” Erice from running in the May 2025 elections, following allegations that he spread false and alarming information about the poll body and the electoral process.

In a petition filed by Raymond Salipot, Erice was accused of violating Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) by making “unsubstantiated and damaging statements” about the upcoming elections. These statements were allegedly spread through various media outlets, including newspapers, online platforms, and radio reports.

“All statements made by Respondent contradict verifiable and widely available facts from the Comelec and all sources across platforms,” the Comelec decision reads.

The COMELEC emphasized that the former Caloocan Solon failed to provide any substantial evidence to back his claims, noting that his statements were made without factual foundation.

“Glaring is the fact that there was not any modicum of evidence provided by Respondent aside from bare statements made in the media. Hence, the information propagated by Respondent on the general conduct of elections are false,” the Decision said.

The decision also stated that Erice’s actions were not merely criticisms but deliberate attempts to disrupt the election process. By using multiple media platforms to spread false information, Erice was seen as amplifying the potential for public confusion and voter distrust, which could harm the integrity of the election system.

Erice, however, remains confident and has vowed to challenge the decision. In a statement on his official Facebook account, he called the disqualification case against him “flimsy” and expressed his belief that the Supreme Court (SC) would not allow it to stand. He also reiterated his commitment to pursue cases against Comelec officials, stating, “We will fight for the country and the people.”

The disqualification decision is not final, as Erice has the option to appeal the ruling before the Comelec en banc.

Erice has been vocal about his concerns regarding the use of election technology, particularly questioning the credibility of the newly appointed poll technology provider, South Korea’s Miru Systems. He has called for the re-use of the decade-old Smartmatic machines, which were used in previous automated elections.

Recently, Erice filed a petition with the Supreme Court, seeking to nullify the contract between Comelec and Miru after the withdrawal of the Filipino partner in the joint venture, St. Timothy. Erice argues that the removal of St. Timothy makes the contract invalid, as it was essential to the joint venture’s eligibility for the bidding process.

He has also accused Comelec of rigging the bidding for the P18-billion contract to favor Miru, further alleging that a poll official received bribes from Miru through offshore accounts. Comelec Chairman George Garcia has denied the allegations, requesting investigations by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

While the Supreme Court previously ruled that Comelec had abused its power in disqualifying Smartmatic from the bidding, it did not annul the contract with Miru. The controversy surrounding Miru’s reputation continues, with the company facing transparency issues both domestically and internationally.

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