MANILA – Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Erwin Garcia has inhibited from all cases filed and would be filed before the poll body against former Caloocan representative Edgar Erice.
“In view of the recent issues and the cases filed by former Congressman Edgar R. Erice against me, I am exercising my discretion to inhibit myself from handling or participating in any and all cases involving him or may be filed by him or against him,” Garcia said in a November 27 memorandum and made public Thursday.
The Comelec chief said his move aims to “preserve the principles of fairness and impartiality, ensuring the integrity of the proceedings under my jurisdiction and avoiding any potential perception of bias or conflict of interest.”
This action is grounded on the 1993 Comelec Rules of Procedure on Inhibition, specifically, Rule 4, Section 1(c), he added.
“While the Rule outlines specific grounds for mandatory inhibition, it also acknowledges the Members’ prerogative to recuse themselves for other valid or justifiable reasons. I believe that the pending cases Mr. Erice has filed against me, constitute a valid basis to inhibit myself, in order to uphold the public’s trust in the impartiality of this office,” Garcia said.
Garcia’s move came after the Comelec law department filed a disqualification case against Erice, who is seeking a comeback as Caloocan’s 2nd district congressman in next year’s elections.
In an 11-page resolution promulgated on Nov. 26, the poll body’s Second Division headed by Commissioner Marlon Casquejo filed the disqualification case before the Clerk of the Commission against Erice for spreading false information against the poll body and the automated election systems to be used in the May midterm polls, in violation of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC).
“Section 261(z)(11) of the OEC is clear in its pronouncement that the prohibited act committed by any person must be done (a) for the purpose of disrupting the election process and causing confusion among the voters, (b) by propagating false and alarming reports, and transmitting or circulating false orders, directives, or messages,” the ruling added.
Petitioner Raymond Salipot pushed for the disqualification of Erice whom he accused of deliberately spreading false and alarming reports, and circulating misleading messages to disrupt the electoral process and cause confusion among the voters.
“…Respondent’s (Erice) unverified claims pertain to the general conduct of elections, as he attacks the very machine and technology to be utilized in the 2025 NLE (National and Local Elections). All statements made by Respondent contradict verifiable and widely available facts from the Comelec and all sources across platforms. Glaring is the fact that there was not any modicum of evidence provided by Respondent aside from bare statements made in the media,” the ruling said.
Erice earlier claimed that the Comelec’s PHP18 billion contract with Miru Systems, the service provider of the automated election system (AES), is “highly anomalous,” and the procurement thereof was “rigged”, asserting that the custom-made specifications were used to justify price inflation.
“With the use of multiple media platforms to circulate these false statements, he is amplifying their potential to cause public alarm, voter confusion and damage to the integrity of the electoral system in the country,” the poll body said. (PNA)