Edgar Erice

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Edgar Erice

| death_place =

| birth_name = Edgar Ranes Erice

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|06|15}}

| birth_place = Quezon City, Philippines

| death_date =

| nationality = Filipino

| term_end4 = June 30, 2001

| spouse = Rosalie Villarico Erice

| relations =

| children =

| party = Liberal (1988–1992; 2003–2021; 2024–present){{cite news|url=https://metromanila.politiko.com.ph/2024/09/20/egay-erice-takes-oath-as-liberal-party-member/headlines/|title=Egay Erice takes oath as Liberal Party member|date=September 20, 2024|accessdate=October 4, 2024|website=Politiko Metro Manila}}

| otherparty = Aksyon (2021–2024)
Lakas-NUCD (1992–2003)

| residence = Caloocan

| domicile =

| alma_mater = University of Santo Tomas (BA)

| occupation = Public Servant and Founder and President of Egay R. Erice Foundation Inc.

| profession = Businessman

| term_start4 = June 30, 1995

| image = Rep. Edgar Erice (18th Congress).jpg

| imagesize =

| smallimage =

| caption = Official portrait, 2019

| office = Member of the
Philippine House of Representatives
from Caloocan's 2nd district{{cite web|title=Erice, Edgar R. - House of Representatives|url=http://www.congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?id=erice-e|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513202316/http://www.congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?id=erice-e|archive-date=May 13, 2019}}

| term_start = June 30, 2013

| term_end = June 30, 2022

| predecessor = Mitzi Cajayon

| successor = Mitzi Cajayon

| term_start2 = June 30, 2001

| office4 = Member of the
Caloocan City Council

| term_end2 = June 30, 2004

| predecessor2 = Luis Asistio

| successor2 = Luis Asistio

| office3 = Vice Mayor of Caloocan

| term_start3 = June 30, 2010

| term_end3 = June 30, 2013

| 1blankname3 = {{nowrap|Mayor}}

| 1namedata3 = Enrico Echiverri

| predecessor3 = Tito Varela

| successor3 = Luis Macario Asistio

| signature =

}}

Edgar "Egay" Ranes Erice (born June 15, 1960) is a Filipino politician who served as the representative for Caloocan's second congressional district from 2001 to 2004 and from 2013 to 2022. Erice ran for mayor of Caloocan in 2022 and lost to fellow representative Along Malapitan.

He was the regional chairman of Aksyon Demokratiko for the National Capital Region from 2021 to 2024, but he quits from the party and returned to Liberal Party in 2024.

Early life and education

Erice took up secondary education at Caloocan High School from 1973 to 1977 and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at University of Santo Tomas as a beneficiary of "Study-now, Pay-Later Plan" of Caloocan.

Furthermore, Erice was a leader of the Liberal Party of the Philippines for 18 years (since 1988). He was the Regional Chairman for National Capital Region of Aksyon Demokratiko and the Past President of the Rotary Club of Caloocan District 3800 and a past navigator of Andres Bonifacio Assembly – Knights of Columbus.

Political career

= Caloocan President of Kabataang Barangay (1975) =

Erice first came to public service in 1975, when he became part of Kabataang Barangay Chairman (now known as Sangguniang Kabataan) at the age of 15. He was the President of the Kabataang Barangay for Caloocan from 1975 to 1981.

= Caloocan city council member (1995–2001) =

Erice was elected member of the Caloocan City Council in 1995 at the age of 35. He was re-elected to a second term in 1998.

= Congressional stint (2001–2004) =

Erice decided not to seek re-election for councilor in 2001 and instead ran for representative of Caloocan's 2nd congressional district in 2001. He won, serving for one term until 2004. In 2004, he ran for mayor of Caloocan under the Liberal Party but lost to 1st district Representative Enrico Echiverri.

= 2007 Congressional bid =

In 2007, Erice attempted a comeback to the Congress, but lost to incumbent Mitzi Cajayon.{{cite news|url=https://www.philstar.com/metro/2007/05/23/1671/paggamit-sa-diosnong-mga-gasa|title=Paggamit sa Diosnong mga gasa|first=Rey|last=Cui|date=May 23, 2007|accessdate=July 18, 2024|website=Philstat.com}}

= Vice Mayor of Caloocan under Mayor Echiverri (2010–2013) =

Erice ran for vice-mayor in the 2010 elections under the Liberal Party-coalition of Mayor Enrico Echiverri. He was elected, defeating former Mayor Rey Malonzo who was the running mate of Luis Asistio. He was also the President of the Vice Mayors' League of the Philippines that time and Director of Metro Manila Development Council. He would serve for only one term until 2013.

= Congressional stint (2013–2022) =

Initially planning to run for Mayor of Caloocan, Erice ran for representative of Caloocan's 2nd congressional district in 2013 under the Liberal Party and won, defeating incumbent Mitzi Cajayon.{{cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/edgar-erice-makes-one-last-bid-caloocan-city-hall/|title=Edgar Erice makes one last bid for Caloocan city hall|first=Dwight|last=De Leon|work=Rappler|date=October 21, 2021|accessdate=April 30, 2023}} He was re-elected in 2016 and in 2019.

He ran again for mayor in 2022 under Aksyon Demokratiko,{{cite news|title=Caloocan’s Edgar Erice leaves LP, joins Isko Moreno’s Aksyon|url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/edgar-erice-jumps-liberal-party-to-aksyon-demokratiko/|work=Rappler|date=September 20, 2021|first=Pia|last=Ranada}} which he said would be his last political run, but lost to 1st district Representative Along Malapitan, son of outgoing Mayor Oscar Malapitan.

=Controversies=

In July 2024, the Supreme Court En banc directed Erice to file comment on the confidentiality and protective gag order motion filed by Miru Systems joint Venture on the 2025 Philippine general election case. Earlier, Erice filed a certiorari case versus the {{Philippine peso|18-billion|link=yes}} contract awarded by the COMELEC to Miru Systems.{{cite news |last1= Ayalin |first1=Adrian |title=SC tells Erice to comment on gag order motion filed by Miru Systems|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/16/sc-tells-erice-to-comment-on-gag-order-motion-filed-by-miru-systems-1651 |accessdate=July 16, 2024 |publisher=ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs |date=July 16, 2024}} Erice also filed a motion with the High Tribunal to cite Chairman George Garcia in contempt of court for violation of the sub judice rule alleging Garcia's prohibited remarks on the pending case.{{cite news |last1= Laqui|first1= Ian |title=Comelec chair's comments on poll deal draw contempt motion|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/07/16/2370614/comelec-chairs-comments-poll-deal-draw-contempt-motion |accessdate=July 16, 2024 |publisher= The Philippine Star|date=July 16, 2024}}

In August 2024, Angelo Balatbat and Raymond Salipot filed a joint complaint-affidavit against Erice at the Comelec Law Department. The lawsuit petitioned for a preliminary investigation based on his alleged false claims and information regarding Comelec and Miru Systems.{{cite news |last1= Naval|first1= Gerard |title=Comelec asked to conduct probe on `false’ claims|url=https://malaya.com.ph/news_news/comelec-asked-to-conduct-probe-on-false-claims/ |accessdate=August 17, 2024 |publisher= Malaya|date=August 16, 2024}}

In November, Garcia in his memorandum recused from all lawsuits before the COMELEC against Erice based on Rule 4, Section 1(c), 1993 Comelec Rules of Procedure.{{cite news |last1=Patinio|first1=Ferdinand |title=Comelec chief inhibits from poll raps vs. ex-Caloocan solon Erice|url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1238885 |accessdate=November 28, 2024 |work= Philippine News Agency|date=November 28, 2024}}

=2025 Congressional bid=

Erice filed his candidacy to run again as congressman in Caloocan's second district in 2025. On November 27, 2024, he was disqualified by the Comelec Second Division for "propagating false information across multiple platforms" in relation for his accusations against Comelec and Miru Systems.{{cite news |last1=de Leon |first1=Dwight |title=Comelec disqualifies Erice in 2025 polls for ‘propagating false info’ |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/elections/comelec-disqualifies-edgar-erice-2025-elections/ |accessdate=November 28, 2024 |publisher= Rappler |date=November 27, 2024}} The decision was affirmed by the Comelec en banc on December 27.{{cite news |last1=Untalan |first1=Sherilyn |title=Comelec affirms Erice disqualification from May 2025 polls |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/931159/comelec-affirms-erice-disqualification-from-may-2025-polls/story/ |accessdate=December 28, 2024 |publisher=GMA News |date=December 27, 2024}} In January 2025, however, the Supreme Court issued a TRO in favor of Erice against the disqualification.{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Supreme Court issues TRO vs disqualification of Edgar Erice from 2025 polls|url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/elections/supreme-court-tro-disqualification-caloocan-congressman-candidate-erice/ |accessdate=January 14, 2025 |work=Rappler |date=January 14, 2025}}

Other political experience

(1980–1982) Administrative Officer I – Metro Manila Commission (MMDA)
(1982–1984) Plans & Programs Officer – Metro Manila Commission (MMDA)
(1984–1986) Chief, Research and statistics Office – Metro Manila Commission (MMDA)
(1986–1987) Area Manager – Environmental Sanitation Center Caloocan
(1989–1992) Chief of staff – Office of Congressman Virgilio P. Robles