JUST like any crime, usurpation does not pay, says lawyer Argel Cabatbat moments after being informed of a Supreme Court decision nullifying the nomination of a billionaire contractor for a partylist which won a seat during the 2022 election.
In a 34-page decision rendered in May 2024 but was only made public three months later, the Supreme Court took a swipe at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for “gravely abusing its discretion” when it rendered a decision based on procedural matters, while neglecting the substantive issues raised by the Magsasaka partylist stalwarts.
According to the high tribunal, Comelec’s failure to look into what has transpired in the Magsasaka partylist group even before the Manifestation of Interest to Participate (MIP) in the 2022 election, was submitted by the respondent Dexter Villamin to the Comelec.
Court records showed that Villamin was unanimously expelled from the Magsasaka partylist over fraudulent acts, for which he is undergoing trial – and remains in jail.
But even behind bars, Villamin still managed to pull off something big – ceding the spurious partylist nomination to billionaire Robert Nazal Jr. who is not even a member of the Magsasaka partylist group.
Interestingly, Nazal, according to a profile posted on One Mega Group’s website, is the Chief Executive Officer of a mining company listed as MRMJ Earthmovers Corp., PERRC Construction and Development Corp. and HealthWellnessLifestyle Inc. consumer goods company.
Moreover, Nazal had two failed bids to become a congressman – first as second nominee of the Bagong Henerasyon partylist group during the 2019 election and again under the PASAHERO partylist which failed to secure enough votes during the May 2022 elections.
Meanwhile, the legitimate first nominee of the Magsasaka partylist – lawyer Argel Cabatbat issued a statement welcoming SC’s decision.
“Kahit kaunti na lang ang natitirang buwan ngayong 19th Congress, magkakaroon ulit ng boses ang mga magsasaka sa Kongreso. Maibabalik ulit sa mga magsasaka ang Magsasaka Partylist!” (ANGEL F. JOSE)
