SC upholds Erice's election as Caloocan congressman

AFFIRMED. The Supreme Court dismisses Mary Mitzi Cajayon's petition for certoriati, which contested HRET's affirmation of Edgar Erice's victory in the 2013 elections. Rappler file photo

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court has upheld the ruling of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) that Edgar Erice is the duly elected representative of Caloocan City's second district.

At an en banc session on Tuesday, October 13, the high court dismissed Mary Mitzi Cajayon's petition for certoriati dated September 22, 2015, which contested HRET's affirmation of Erice's victory in the 2013 elections.

On March 18, the tribunal dismissed Cajayon's electoral protest and confirmed Erice as the winner of the congressional contest.

According to Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te, the court found "no grave abuse of discretion on the part of respondent HRET."

Liberal Party's Erice and National Unity Party's Cajayon battled for the congressional seat in 2013. Cajayon, the incumbent at the time, lost by around 10,000 votes to Erice, who got 60, 545 votes.

Cajayon was among the 6 incumbent solons at the time who filed electoral protests before the HRET. – Rappler.com