INTRAMUROS, Manila — Citing violations in the Omnibus Election Code, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has granted the petition asking for the disqualification of former Caloocan City District II representative Edgar ‘Egay’ Erice from running for reelection in the upcoming midterm elections in May next year.

In a 13-page resolution, Comelec gave weight to petitioner Raymond Salipot complaint, urging the poll body to bar he former solon as a congressional aspirant against incumbent lawmaker Mary Mitizi ‘Mitch’ Cajayon-Uy.

Salipot had previously sought Erice’s disqualification for “deliberately spreading false and alarming reports” to disrupt the electoral process and cause confusion among voters.

In reaction, Comelec asserted that Erice clearly did violate the Omnibus Election Code, particularly Section 261(z) (11), which bars candidacies of people who peddle lies about the elections, by propagating false information across multiple platforms.

“(This is) a ground for his disqualification as a candidate for member of the House of Representatives. The pieces of evidence presented substantially demonstrate that the allegations against the respondent show his well-documented and systematic pattern of making unsubstantiated yet damaging statements,” the Comelec pointed out in its decision.

It may be recalled that Erice repeatedly characterized the Philippines as a ‘guinea pig’ in the coming elections, asserting that the automated counting machines and system procured by the Comelec from South Korea-based provider Miru Systems have never been utilized in any election worldwide.

The former congressman further claimed that the Comelec’s ₱18-billion contract with Miru was highly anomalous and the procurement through a rigged bidding process.