EMILIO RAMON E.R. P. EJERCITO,v.

COMELEC
G.R. No. 212398
November 25, 2014

Facts:
Three days prior to the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections, a petition for disqualification was filed by San
Luis before the Office of the COMELEC Clerk in Manila against Ejercito alleging violation of the Onibus Election
Code, specifically overspending in an election campaign. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified
Ejercito last May for campaign overspending during the 2013 elections. The poll body said Ejercito spent P23.5
million for his campaign when a candidate was allowed to spend only P4.5 million or P3 for each of the
1,525,522 registered voters in Laguna. Ejercito, who denied committing overspending, claimed that his
disqualification was politically motivated.
Issue: Whether or not the incumbent Governor was properly disqualified from office.
Held:
The Supreme Court affirmed Ejercito's dismissal having for overspent above and beyond what is allowed by law,
citing thereof, among others, Sec. 68 of the Omnibus Election Code. The Supreme Court said that not only a
candidate is under obligation to uphold regulate his spending during an election campaign, but also that of his
sponsors.