It’s final: SC affirms ER’s ouster

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed with finality a decision it handed down in November ousting Laguna Gov. Emilio Ramon “ER” Ejercito from his post.

At yesterday’s session, the SC justices stood by their ruling affirming Ejercito’s disqualification by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for overspending during the 2013 polls.

The high court denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Ejercito. It said no new arguments had been raised to merit a reconsideration. 

The SC said the Comelec was correct in approving the disqualification case filed by Edgar San Luis, Ejercito’s rival from the ruling Liberal Party.

The high court rejected Ejercito’s claim that the advertising contracts between ABS-CBN Corp. and Scenema Concept International Inc. were executed without his knowledge and consent. 

The SC did not believe Ejercito’s claims that his signatures on the contracts were forged.

In his petition filed in May last year, Ejercito asked the SC to nullify the Comelec ruling, saying the poll body committed grave abuse of discretion in disqualifying him.

He said there was no formal complaint for disqualification lodged against him and that San Luis’ complaint was only for a request to initiate a criminal proceeding for violation of election laws and not for disqualification.

The SC did not agree.

The Comelec said the ousted governor spent more than P23 million for his campaign,when he was only authorized to spend P4.5 million or P3 for every registered voter in his province.