Comelec bars Erice from 2025 race for false info

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has barred former lawmaker Edgar Erice from running in the 2025 congressional race in Caloocan's 2nd District.

Erice was disqualified for 'propagating false information across multiple platforms,' according to Comelec's 2nd Division, which cited his deliberate intent to disrupt elections.

The decision is not final and Erice can appeal the ruling before the Comelec en banc.

Erice has repeatedly criticized Comelec's new poll technology provider, Miru Systems, while advocating for the use of decade-old machines from Smartmatic.

Comelec invoked Section 261(z)(11) of the election code, which disqualifies candidates who spread false information about elections.

Erice had previously accused Comelec of rigging the bidding process in favor of Miru and alleged that a poll official received bribes from entities related to Miru through offshore accounts.