The Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division has disqualified
incumbent Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon "ER" Ejercito for supposedly
overspending during the May 13 elections — a decision that has politics
"written all over it," according to an opposition senator.
Coming to his cousin's rescue, Senator JV Ejercito tweeted Thursday that the disqualification case has "partisan politics written all over it. Gov. ER won overwhelmingly."
Ejercito, nephew of former President and now Manila mayor Joseph Estrada, has locked horns with President Benigno Aquino III in the past.
The Comelec, on the other hand, said Ejercito's disqualification only shows that the poll body "isn't joking."
Coming to his cousin's rescue, Senator JV Ejercito tweeted Thursday that the disqualification case has "partisan politics written all over it. Gov. ER won overwhelmingly."
Ejercito, nephew of former President and now Manila mayor Joseph Estrada, has locked horns with President Benigno Aquino III in the past.
The Comelec, on the other hand, said Ejercito's disqualification only shows that the poll body "isn't joking."
"Hindi po kami nagbibiro," Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said
in the statement, adding that they are "readying several other election
offense cases against erring candidates."
First time
First time
"This is the first time for somebody to be disqualified for overspending," Commissioner Lucenito Tagle, the head of the division, told GMA News Online by phone on Thursday.
The decision, however, is not final and executory as Ejercito has five days to submit a motion for reconsideration, said Brillantes. The Comelec sitting en banc would then decide on the motion.
Ejercito may proceed to the Supreme Court if the en banc ruled against him.
Once disqualified, Vice Governor Ramil Hernandez would take Ejercito's place, Brillantes said.
In a statement, the Comelec said Ejercito spent P6 million in television advertisement alone.
According to the poll body, Ejercito is only allowed to spend P4.5
million for his entire campaign. The Comelec, in a resolution, said
candidates are only allowed to spend P3 per registered voter. Laguna has
a total 1,525,522 voters.
Ejercito won as Laguna governor in the 2013 elections with a total 549,310 votes.
Disqualification case
In a separate interview, Brillantes told GMA News Online that Ejercito's expense report shows he had a contract for seven television spots worth over P20 million.
But the report only included two receipts that already show a P6 million expenditure for two airtime spots, he added.
The disqualification case stemmed from a petition filed by Ejercito's close rival Edgar "Egay" San Luis. Brillantes said the poll body took the cue from the petition and audited Ejercito's expense report.
GMA News Online has been trying to reach Ejercito by phone but he was not picking up the calls. A "24 Oras" report by Marisol Abdurahman quoted him as saying that he would file a motion to reconsider the disqualification.
Ejercito was also quoted as claiming he was a "victim of politics." — RSJ/KBK, GMA News
Disqualification case
In a separate interview, Brillantes told GMA News Online that Ejercito's expense report shows he had a contract for seven television spots worth over P20 million.
But the report only included two receipts that already show a P6 million expenditure for two airtime spots, he added.
The disqualification case stemmed from a petition filed by Ejercito's close rival Edgar "Egay" San Luis. Brillantes said the poll body took the cue from the petition and audited Ejercito's expense report.
GMA News Online has been trying to reach Ejercito by phone but he was not picking up the calls. A "24 Oras" report by Marisol Abdurahman quoted him as saying that he would file a motion to reconsider the disqualification.
Ejercito was also quoted as claiming he was a "victim of politics." — RSJ/KBK, GMA News
