AGRICULTURAL entrepreneur Robert Gerard Nazal Jr. will have to wait for some time before he can formally seat as representative of the Magkakasama sa Sakahan, Kaunlaran (Magsasaka) party-list organization.
This as the Supreme Court en banc, in an order dated October 18, granted the petition of the group seeking to preserve the status quo prevailing prior to the National Board of Canvassers resolution dated September 14 confirming Nazal’s proclamation as representative of the party-list group.
“Acting on the above Motion, considering the allegations contained and the arguments adduced in the Motion, the Court resolves to issue a Status Quo Ante Order effective immediately, and continuing until further orders from this Court, and order the petitioner, respondents, their agents, representatives or person acting in their place or stead, to maintain the status quo prevailing prior to the NBOC resolution confirming the proclamation of Roberto Gerard Nazal Jr. as representative of Magsasaka party-list,” the en banc notice said.
The High Court also required the respondents to answer the petition “within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice.”
Named respondents in the petition were the Commission on Elections and Soliman Villamin Jr., who is the group’s national chairperson.
Last week, Nazal’s camp told the media that he has already taken oath as the newest member of the House of Representatives before Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 220 Judge Jose Paneda after the poll body issued his certificate of proclamation.
But former Magsasaka Rep. Argel Joseph Cabatbat contested Nazal’s claim and said the party does not even know who he is.
Cabatbat also claimed that Nazal is actually a nominee of the Pasahero party-list that participated but lost in the May 9, 2022 national elections.
Nazal however stressed that the poll body had already resolved the internal dispute between Villamin and Cabatbat.
He claimed the Comelec supposedly upheld the bid of Villamin’s side to field candidates for the party-list race in the May elections.
Nazal said he was the third nominee of Villamin’s camp but that the first and second nominee had resigned, paving the way for his winning a seat in the Lower House.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said the poll body will abide by the SC order.
“We will abide, respect, and act accordingly,” said Garcia, adding the Commission shall “refrain, in the meantime, from issuing any document recognizing Mr. Nazal as the legitimate nominee of Magsasaka PL.”
Nazal’s camp said the status quo ante order only applies to his proclamation and not the Comelec’s ruling in favor of Villamin Jr.’s faction.
“The SC order isn’t a setback for the Villamin (Jr.) faction because that doesn’t change the fact it is the one duly recognized by the Comelec, and we believe that the high court will also eventually rule in our favor,” said lawyer John Paul Nabua, acting spokesperson for the party-list group.
Nabua cited the Comelec’s September 9, 2022 en banc resolution upholding an earlier ruling by the poll body’s first division junking the petitions to deny due course to Villamin’s manifestation of intent to participate (MIP) in the May 2022 elections.
