ER Ejercito Cleared of Overspending Case After 12 Years
COMELEC – The Commission on Elections has officially dismissed the overspending case filed against former Laguna Governor Jeorge “ER” Ejercito Jr., twelve years after it was first lodged.
The case, which led to Ejercito’s removal from office on May 30, 2014, was among the 370 overspending complaints dismissed by COMELEC. This was confirmed in a 20-page ruling released to the public on April 8, 2025, following the recommendation of the Law Department.
The decision—documented under Minute Resolution No. 24-0899—was signed by COMELEC Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia and six commissioners. Although the resolution was promulgated on November 5, 2024, it was officially issued in January 2025.
Notably, among all the 370 cases, Ejercito was the only official who had been suspended and removed from office, which many described as an act of “selective injustice.”
The complaint was filed by his political rival, Edgar “Egay” San Luis, and Rene A. Catarino after Ejercito’s landslide victory in the 2013 Laguna gubernatorial election. Allegedly, falsified TV advertising documents from ABS-CBN were used as evidence, submitted by San Luis’ lawyer, Atty. Rodel Paderayon.
At the height of the political standoff at the Laguna Capitol in Sta. Cruz, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada intervened personally. Estrada arrived by helicopter to convince his nephew to step down peacefully and avoid possible violence. According to Ejercito, he followed his uncle’s advice and yielded to pressure from then-President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
Ejercito previously served as Mayor of Pagsanjan from 2001 to 2010 and as Governor of Laguna from 2010 until his removal in 2014. With the case now behind him, he is planning a political comeback. He has filed his certificate of candidacy and is actively campaigning for the position of Mayor of Pagsanjan in the upcoming May 12, 2025 elections.
The recent dismissal marks a major turning point in Ejercito’s political journey. Analysts and observers are closely watching its potential impact on the coming elections. Meanwhile, COMELEC assured the public that all pending cases involving candidates will be resolved before election day to uphold transparency and fairness.
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