(UPDATE) THE Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Tuesday preventing the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from disqualifying former Caloocan representative Edgar Erice.
Erice is running for a seat in the House of Representatives for Caloocan City’s 2nd District in the May 2025 polls.
Also, the high court directed the Comelec to submit its comments on Erice’s petition within 10 days from receipt of notice, with no extensions allowed.
Earlier this month, the poll body finalized Erice’s disqualification for allegedly spreading “false and alarming” information about the commission’s P18-billion contract with Korean-based firm Miru Systems for the automated midterm polls.
Erice accused the Comelec of irregularities in the bidding process and claimed that certain officials, including Chairman George Garcia, were linked to offshore accounts allegedly linked to bribe money.
The Comelec ruled that Erice’s allegations were baseless and amounted to a violation of election laws under Section 261(z)(11) of the Omnibus Election Code, which penalizes individuals for spreading false information to disrupt elections.
In December 2024, the Comelec affirmed its Second Division’s decision disqualifying Erice, making it final on Jan. 3, 2025. Erice’s name was subsequently excluded from the official ballots as printing began on Jan. 6, 2025.
Erice contested the decision, arguing that his criticisms were legitimate and part of his duty to hold public officials accountable. He also challenged Comelec’s interpretation of the law, asserting that his statements did not constitute violations under the cited provision.
In addition to the TRO on Erice’s case, the Supreme Court also issued restraining orders on several other Comelec rulings.
The high court blocked the poll body from declaring Subair Guinthum Mustapha a nuisance candidate in the senatorial race and required a response to his petition within five days.
Similarly, the Supreme Court halted Comelec’s disqualification of Charles Savellano, who is running for representative of Ilocos Sur’s 1st District, and ordered the commission to comment within the same timeframe.
The high court further restrained Comelec from rejecting the certificate of candidacy (COC) of Chito Bulatao Balintay, an indigenous leader running for governor of Zambales. The Comelec was directed to accept and process Balintay’s COC, with a deadline to respond to the petition set within 10 days.
In another case, the Supreme Court prevented Comelec from canceling Florendo de Ramos Ritualo Jr.’s COC for a Sangguniang Panlungsod Member seat in San Juan City’s 1st District, requiring the commission’s comment within the same period.
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