Infighting, power struggle erupt within Magsasaka party-list
Photo from Rep. Nazal’s office
MANILA, Philippines — Agricultural entrepreneur Robert Gerard Nazal Jr. claims to have been declared as the Magsasaka party-list representative for the 19th Congress, but members of the said party, including its former representative, claim that he is not even part of the group.
In a statement on Wednesday, Nazal’s camp said 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 on Monday — the same day the Commission on Elections (Comelec) supposedly issued a Certificate of Proclamation.
Nazal also sent photos where he is seen paying a courtesy call to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
However, the side of former Magsasaka Rep. Argel Joseph Cabatbat said the party does not even know who Nazal is. In a press conference earlier streamed via Facebook page of the Magsasaka party-list, Cabatbat claimed that Nazal is actually a nominee of a different party-list that participated in the 2022 national elections.
“So no’ng Lunes ng gabi lang namin nalaman. Hindi namin kakilala itong si Robert Nazal Jr., hindi po namin ito miyembro, at kung amin pong i-search sa Google at Facebook ay lumalabas na siya ay founder at purported nominee ng natalong Pasahero party-list nito lamang pong May 2022 elections,” Cabatbat said.
(We were only informed on Monday night. We don’t know who Robert Nazal Jr. is, he is not a member of our group, and when we searched his name on Google and Facebook, it appears that he is a founder and purported nominee of the Pasahero party-list, which was defeated in the recent May 2022 elections.)
“Kung sisiyasatin pa po natin ang pagkatao nitong Robert Nazal Jr., ay lumalabas na siya ay isang milyonaryo na may-ari ng napakaraming kumpanya — construction companies, supplier ng beauty products, supplier ng medical supplies, at iba pa,” he added.
(If you would scrutinize the personality of this Robert Nazal Jr., it appears that he is a millionaire who owns several companies — construction companies, supplier of beauty products, supplier of medical supplies, and others.)
But Nazal’s camp said in a statement that Comelec had already resolved the internal dispute between Magsasaka national chair Soliman Villamin Jr. and Cabatbat, where the poll body supposedly upheld the bid of Villamin’s side to field candidates for the party-list.
Nazal was the third nominee of Villamin’s side but the first and second nominee resigned from their post. With the Magsasaka party-list winning one seat at the House after the election, Comelec proclaimed him as the winner according to Nazal’s camp.
“It took more than four months before Nazal could finally assume office as the Comelec had to resolve the internal dispute between Magsasaka national chair Soliman Villamin Jr. and the faction led by lawyer Argel Joseph Cabatbat, the group’s former representative to Congress,” the statement read.
“The Comelec recently issued a Certificate of Finality and Entry of Judgment in which the poll body declared as ‘final and executory’ its ruling in favor of Villamin Jr.,” it added.
READ: Comelec proclaims winning party-list groups
Nazal’s camp also sent to reporters a copy of the Comelec certificate said to be signed by Comelec Chairperson George Garcia, and Commissioners Soccoro Inting, Marlon Casquejo, Aimee Ferolino, and Rey Bulay.
Photo from Rep. Nazal’s office
According to Nazal’s group, the infighting within Magsasaka started when Villamin was supposedly illegally voted out of the party. Villamin however reasoned out to Comelec that his removal was illegal, and therefore, he was still the chairperson.
“The infighting within the party-list organization started in June 2019 when Villamin Jr. was unceremoniously and illegally voted out of Magsasaka’s Council of Leaders and ultimately expelled from the party in November that year,” Nazal’s camp claimed.
“Villamin Jr. heads DV Boer Farm International Corp where Cabatbat served as legal counsel until a falling out. In his filing with the Comelec, Villamin Jr. insisted that his removal from office and expulsion from the party were illegal, and that he remains to be its legitimate national chair,” it added.
Reporters have asked Comelec officials for a comment on the issue but the commission has not yet replied as of now.
