Petition seeks Erice's disqualification for comments ‘discrediting’ poll integrity

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — A petition has been filed before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeking the disqualification of former Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice as a candidate in the upcoming 2025 National and Local Elections.</p><p>The petitioner, Raymond Salipot, argued that Erice had engaged in actions that undermine the integrity of the electoral process, claiming violations of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) and COMELEC Resolution No. 11046.</p><p>In the petition, Salipot accused Erice of spreading misinformation to discredit the electoral process.</p><p>Specifically, he pointed to Erice’s repeated claims that the Philippines was being used as a “guinea pig” for untested election technology, which Salipot argued was intended to “incite public fear.”</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/15/ex-rep-erice-alleges-comelec-official-received-over-15m-for-miru-contract-2143">READ: Ex-Rep. Erice alleges Comelec official received over $15-M for Miru contract</a></div><p>In his petition, Salipot said Erice has “irresponsibly implied that an uncontrolled experimentation would be taking place in the 2025 NLE,” a claim he described as both “unverified and alarmist.”</p><p>Salipot also highlighted Erice’s accusations of bribery and corruption against Comelec officials.</p><p>He said these allegations are “unverified” and that  there is “no concrete evidence to support them.”</p><p>According to Salipot, such statements served to “create unnecessary fear and uncertainty about the upcoming elections,” which could erode public confidence in the democratic process.</p><p>The petition also pointed to Erice’s criticism of the Comelec’s new voting machines and the supplier, Miru Systems. </p><p>“By casting doubt on the integrity of the bidding process without substantiation, Respondent was essentially eroding public confidence in the electoral system and the institution tasked with its administration,” the petition read.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/20/ex-rep-erice-files-graft-complaint-vs-comelec-officials-1400">RELATED: Ex-Rep. Erice files graft complaint vs. Comelec officials</a></div><p>The petitioner argued that Erice’s statements amounted to an election offense under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits the dissemination of false information intended to disrupt or obstruct the election process.</p><p>“Respondent’s damaging yet baseless remarks weakened the Comelec’s efforts to have a free, orderly, and honest election,” Salipot said in his petition. He argued that such “malicious misinformation” could impact voter turnout and overall confidence in the election.</p><p>Salipot’s lawyer, Jenno Antonio Villanueva, explained that the petitioner was an ordinary citizen and small business owner, with no connection to Miru Systems or any candidate in Caloocan.</p><p>“‘Yong mga statements po ni Mr. Erice, it undermines the integrity of the Comelec,” Villanueva told Teleradyo Serbisyo in a telephone interview. “Ang pinoprotektahan po natin dito, kasama ng ating petitioner, ay ang integridad ng halalan na hindi niya dapat dinudungisan.”</p><p>(Mr. Erice&#x27;s statements undermine the integrity of the Comelec. What we are protecting here is the integrity of the elections)</p><p>The petition sought Erice&#x27;s disqualification and the removal of his name from the ballot as a congressional candidate for Caloocan’s second district.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/15/erice-faces-complaint-for-disrupting-halalan-2025-preps-1456">READ: Erice faces complaint for &#x27;disrupting&#x27; Halalan 2025 preps</a></div><p>Salipot also asked Comelec to hold Erice accountable for his actions, which he claimed violated both the spirit and letter of election law.</p><p>Erice, for his part, said that he had already submitted his response to the poll body.</p><p>He noted that Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code applies only when a disruption occurrs during actual voting.</p><p>“Katawa-tawa ‘yang ano na ‘yan,” Erice said in a separate interview. “Kalokohan lang ‘yan para siraan ako, ‘yong kredibilidad ko, dahil hindi ko naman po ginugulo ‘yong eleksyon.”</p><p>(That is laughable. That is just nonsense to discredit me and my credibility. I&#x27;m not disrupting the elections)</p><p>Erice, however, stood by his statements.</p><p>&quot;Sinasabi nila nanggugulo daw ako, hindi po ako nanggugulo. ‘Yong mga public official, dapat open sila for criticism and scrutiny at may balido po akong mga issues.&quot;</p><p>(They say I am stirring up trouble, but I am not. Public officials should be open to criticism and I am raising valid issues)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S-vPCjQxKtc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>In his petition, Salipot said Erice has “irresponsibly implied that an uncontrolled experimentation would be taking place in the 2025 NLE,” a claim he described as both “unverified and alarmist.”</p>

In his petition, Salipot said Erice has “irresponsibly implied that an uncontrolled experimentation would be taking place in the 2025 NLE,” a claim he described as both “unverified and alarmist.”

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Petition seeks Erice's disqualification for comments ‘discrediting’ poll integrity

Petition seeks Erice's disqualification for comments ‘discrediting’ poll integrity

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 09, 2024 03:54 PM PHT

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Edgar Erice

Commission on Elections

Comelec

George Garcia

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