After twelve (12) long years, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) En Banc has officially dismissed the election overspending case filed against former Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon “E.R.” Ejercito (aka JEORGE ESTREGAN) by the beaten gubernatorial candidate Gov. ER overwhelmingly beat – Edgar “Egay” S. San Luis and his fallguy – Rene A. Catarino who both used fake TV advertising documents from ABS CBN as evidence designed by their lawyer Attorney Rodel Paderayon, stemming from the 2013 Gubernatorial electoral campaign in Laguna.
This decision was articulated in Minute Resolution (M.R.) No. 24-0899, signed by Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia and six other commissioners, and promulgated on November 5, 2024. The Notice of Resolution was issued on January 7, 2025.
The resolution, a comprehensive 20-page document, concludes with a definitive statement: “The Commission, after due deliberation RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to adopt the recommendation of the Law Department to DISMISS the herein listed cases in violation of Section 100 as amended, in relation to Section 262 of the Omnibus Election Code (Overspending). Let the Law Department implement the Resolution. SO ORDERED.”
The dismissal comes amid a backdrop of 370 overspending cases that have been filed before the Comelec since 2013. Despite the numerous allegations on these elected public officials, ONLY GOV. ER EJERCITO faced suspension from public office during this period (Selective Injustice). His uncle, former Philippine President Joseph “ERAP” Ejercito Estrada had to fly into the Capitol grounds via a chopper to convince his nephew to step down to avoid bloodshed and also adviced him to just fight his legal battle at the Supreme Court. Gov. ER was then forced to leave the Laguna Provincial Capitol in May 30, 2014 by then President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, III following an intense standoff between law enforcement officials and Gov. ER’s supporters at the Provincial Capitol of Laguna in Santa Cruz.
ER Ejercito, who previously held the position of Mayor of Pagsanjan from 2001 to 2010 (nine years) and served four years as the Governor of Laguna after being elected in both 2010 and 2013, is now poised to re-enter the political arena. He has filed his COC and is now aggressively campaigning once again for the Mayorship of Pagsanjan for the upcoming May 12, 2025 elections, aiming for a return to local administration and governance.
The recent resolution marks a significant chapter in ER Ejercito’s political career, as he seeks to re-establish himself within the Laguna political landscape. Political Analysts and Observers will be watching closely as the elections approach, given Ejercito’s colorful political history and the implications of this dismissal on Gov. ER’s political career.
