Petition to disbar poll chief George Garcia filed before SC

Commission on Elections chairman George Garcia speaks during a forum at a restaurant along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on March 6, 2025. — Photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta/Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — A lawyer on Wednesday filed a petition urging the Supreme Court (SC) to disbar Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair George Garcia over alleged irregularities in the 2025 national and local elections.

In a petition for certiorari and mandamus, Atty. Jordan Pizarras — who ran for a congressional seat in Panglao, Bohol but lost to John Geesnell “Baba” Yap II —accused Garcia of requiring him to pay P300 million to win the local elections during a meeting in October 2024.

He also questioned Comelec’s use of software version 3.5.0 in its Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) instead of software version 3.4.0, the source code that was subject to review and certification under Republic Act No. 8436.

READ: The 2025 election dilemma: Risks and promises of Miru’s ACMs

Pizarras, in his petition, also accused Comelec of routing election returns through an unauthorized intermediary server, and that Garcia had close ties with political families in Bohol.

“As warranted by the circumstances, [the petitioner prays] for this Honorable Court to motu propio initiate disbarment, suspension or disciplinary proceedings pursuant to Rule 139-B of the Rules of Court against Respondent George Erwin M. Garcia and other Respondents who are Members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for gross violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility,” the petition read.

The petition also asked the SC to instruct the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct an investigation on any possible violation of the Anti-Cybercrime Law and other related laws.

Pizarras also sought to nullify the proclamation of Yap as representative of Bohol’s first district and called for a manual recount of the votes during the elections.

Furthermore, Piazarras also asked the high court to compel Comelec to turn over the ACMs and ballots to a secure facility designated by the Court.

Garcia responds: Not the first time

Meanwhile, in a separate chance interview, Garcia brushed off Pizarras’ allegations as this wasn’t the first time the lawyer raised the allegations against the poll chief and Comelec.

“At this point, we will no longer dignify it with a response. If we answer now, they’ll just throw another issue next time—it will never end,” said Garcia.

He welcomed the petition, and celebrated the fact that it will now undergo the proper legal process instead of being aired out on social media.

“It’s good that once a case is filed, there’s at least a proper way to respond… and at least it becomes sub judice, unless a party chooses to speak after filing that kind of allegation or contention,” said Garcia.

“We welcome the filing of such a case,” he added. /das