E.R. Ejercito declared mayor of Pagsanjan, Laguna despite guilty verdict on 2008 graft case

Former Laguna Governor E.R. Ejercito has won a seat as the mayor of Pagsanjan, Laguna despite being declared guilty by the Sandiganbayan and perpetually disqualified from running for a position in the government.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Ian Cruz, Ejercito had already been declared mayor after winning the 2025 midterm polls despite facing a graft case for his term as the mayor of Pagsanjan in 2008 due to alleged illegal contracts on insurance claims for boaters and tourists at the Pagsanjan rapids.

He was declared guilty by the Supreme Court’s First Division, and sentenced with 6 to 8 years in detention and perpetual disqualification.

Despite this, Ejercito said that the fight wasn’t over yet since he didn’t do anything wrong.

“Huwag po tayong maging bobo at tanga at mangmang sa batas. May procedure po 'yan. Kung natalo man ako sa first division ng Supreme Court, meron pa pong motion for reconsideration po yan. Pagkatapos ng MR, meron pa pong en banc 'yan,” he stated.

(Let us not be stupid and ignorant on the law. There is a procedure. Even if I lost on the first division of the Supreme Court, there is still a motion for reconsideration. After the MR, there is still the en banc.)

Ejercito maintained that he has done nothing wrong.

"'Di ko kasalanan po iyon. 'Yung lack of documents 'no, at saka 'yung pagkukulang ng proseso na ginawa ay kasalanan po ng Sangguniang Bayan. Pero ang nakakatawa po dito... sila po ay acquitted. Lusot sila, 'yung vice mayor at walong konsehal. Ako po at saka 'yung service provider, kami po 'yung na-convict, kami 'yung guilty," the mayor said.

(That's not my fault. The lack of documents and the lapses in the process are shortcomings of the Municipal Council. What's funny here is... they were acquitted. The vice mayor and eight councilors were off the hook. While the service provider and me were convicted and found guilty.)

Comission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said the decision on Ejercito was still not final and executory as he may still file a motion for reconsideration. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/BAP/VDV, GMA Integrated News

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