DAVAO CITY—Speaker Prospero Nograles on Tuesday doused speculations that he was bolting from the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, and denied that he was contemplating on joining the Nacionalista Party (NP) of presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Villar.
“Why should I resign from the party?” he told reporters here after midnight Tuesday shortly before he was to cap the rally of the Team Nograles at the SIR New Matina gymnasium.
Nograles said he categorically denies all speculations circulating lately in the aftermath of his letter to the Lakas-Kampi-CMD where he expressed his disappointment at a series of moves that he said seemed to sideline the senior members of the party.
He warned that a “wrecking crew” was working inside, and said, “I cannot understand why they seemed to relegate the senior members of the party into senior advisers on special concerns for whatever concerns they could think of.”
In Davao City, for instance, the Lakas leadership has appointed a member of the Marfori family, an influential landed family engaged in business and real estate and other businesses, which he said was known in Davao City as a supporter of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno Aquino III and the Dutertes, of which the daughter is his rival for the mayoral post.
“I don’t know now what’s my role. They have me as their vice chairman, but they have been doing things that I have not been informed,” he said. He said he was not even briefed on his role in the presidential bid of former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro since the start of the campaign.
Nograles also denied that he was planning to move over to NP, saying that he was not keen on it “what with how they have been attacking us.”
Asked if something could still be done to mend the differences with the current party leadership, he said: “I also don’t know, if it would be the national leaders who would reach out to us in the localities, or it would be us in the local to reach out to them.”
“Right now, I dont care what they are doing there. All I am concerned is my campaign for my Team Nograles here,” he said.
Nograles said Lakas-Kampi-CMD has “a lot of problems” to attend to even after the elections.
LP sees surge of defectors to Aquino camp
THE LP is in the midst of backroom talks that will see a fresh wave of defectors from other rival parties, including a prominent Arroyo administration ally from the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, in a bid to boost up its chances of winning the May 10 presidential derby.
But LP presidential bet Sen. Benigno Aquino III declined to name the “prized recruits” set to jump over to the LP camp, when asked in Cebu if there will be more defections to his party following Reps. Boyet Gonzales of Mandaluyong and Roilo Golez of Parañaque.
Aquino begged off from naming the potential defectors, explaining to reporters he did not want to preempt the talks, “pero guarantee ko sa inyo parami ng parami po iyan.”
“Next week, magugulat kayo, isa sa mga stalwarts ng kasalukuyang administrasyon sasama sa kampanya natin,” he said. “Pero pakiusap ko huwag natin banggitin muna. [In] less than a week malalaman ninyo iyan.”
Aquino added they also expect to take in another set of recruits from other political parties. “Tinatapos lang ang kaunting negotiations. Habang lumalapit ang araw ng election, palagay ko magiging avalanche itong sasama sa atin.”
Villar’s priority: Improve tax collection
WHEN elected president, NP standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar vowed to work on improving the tax-collection system as one of his priorities in order to increase government revenues and enhance its services on education, health and infrastructure.
Villar said multitasking is a trait that is important in a President and this should be complemented with an ability to provide the mechanics for better tax administration and collection so that the intended beneficiaries will receive public services and projects.
“Alam po ninyo, hindi puwedeng i-rank iyan [education, health and infrastructure services],” Villar said, when asked which of the three public services will be his priority if elected president. “Dapat iyan ay sabay-sabay.”
The NP standard-bearer said leadership, competence and experience are the qualities that the next president must possess to be able to tackle the country’s problems from Day One onward.
“Ito ang sinasabi ko na ang pangulo ay [dapat maging] multitasker kasi hindi puwedeng ito muna ang uunahin ko, pangalawa ito muna, pangatlo ito,” he added. “Sabay-sabay ho iyan, masyadong behind na ang education, kalusugan at infrastructure natin.”
But Villar underscored that the stewardship of a multitasking President could be undermined by limited funds. Thus, he is banking on improving revenue collection to beef up the national coffers.
Noynoy ‘liable’ for graft
LP presidential bet Sen. Benigno Aquino III is not above the law, and he should be punished for crimes he allegedly committed when his mother was still President.
NP senatorial candidate Adel Tamano said Aquino was liable for violating the Constitution and the Antigraft and Corrupt Practices Act, or Republic Act 3019, when he and his relatives put up Best Security Agency Inc. (BSA) in 1986 shortly after his mother, Corazon Aquino, became president.
“The involvement of Noynoy Aquino in that security agency is a serious matter. If documents that are of public record are in fact true and contracts have been entered into while President Cory Aquino was in office, then this is a violation of RA 3019 and the Constitution,” Tamano, a lawyer, said.
Aquino put up BSA in 1986 and sat on the company’s board of directors. He was also vice president from 1986 to 1993. He put up the agency with his uncle, Antolin “Len” Oreta, Jr., who served as BSA chairman and president.
Oreta is the husband of former senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta, who now sits as chairman of the Early Child Care and Development Council and holds the rank of Cabinet member in the Arroyo administration.
Other directors of BSA were Cipriano Lacson, director-treasurer, George Gaddi, Bienvenido Reyes, Alexander Lopez and Jacob Acuna, known friends and allies of the Aquino family.
Records showed that BSA had entered into contracts with government agencies to provide security services while Aquino’s mother was still president.
“The Constitution in regard to the Executive Department imposes limitations on the relatives of the President from entering into government contracts. So, this is a serious matter,” Tamano said.
Ilonggos back Teodoro
ILOILO CITY—Although some members have left the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, most of their colleagues will stick it out with presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro, who continues to receive full backing from party members, especially those who are representing vote-rich cities and provinces.
Before the scheduled rally here on Tuesday night for Teodoro, former justice secretary Raul Gonzalez and House Majority Leader Arthur Defensor reiterated their support to the candidate of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, saying the desertion by some of their former colleagues will not affect Teodoro’s impending victory.
“We’re preparing a large crowd for him, about 20,000, for the rally in Iloilo tonight [Tuesday evening]. That’s a show of massive support to him,” Gonzalez said.
“We are 100-percent supportive of the candidacy of Secretary Teodoro. We will work hard for his victory,” added Defensor.
Iloilo has an estimated 1.3 million voters.
On Monday House Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr. said he was seriously considering leaving the party, while House Deputy Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II joined the LP.
Lakas-Kampi-CMD Rep. Janette Garin of Iloilo, along with other local officials, also vowed to deliver votes for Teodoro.
Garin is a member of a big and powerful political clan headed by former congressman and now Philippine Coconut Authority chief Oscar Garin.
She is running unopposed in the First District.
Passi Mayor Jesry Palmares said the former defense chief will win in his town.
“Gibo has a clear platform of government. He is brilliant and exudes a no-nonsense kind of leadership. The very first time I met him, he immediately caught my attention,” he said of Teodoro.
“His honesty and sincerity to serve this country impressed me so much,” he added.
Aside from Gonzalez and Defensor, Gov. Felipe Nava of nearby Guimaras province is also backing Teodoro’s candidacy.
The other governors in the Visayas who earlier pledged support for Teodoro include Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu, Sally Zaldivar Perez of Antique, Isidro Zayco of Negros Occidental and Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar.
Earlier, local officials of Nueva Ecija assured their support for Teodoro and the Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial candidates during a rally in the province on Monday.
Gov. Aurelio Umali, Rep. Cherry Umali (Third District), Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago (Second District), San Jose City Mayor Marivic Violago-Belena and congressional candidate Renato Diaz, along with other officials, vowed to deliver votes for Teodoro, his running mate Edu Manzano, and senatorial bets Rey Langit, Ramon Guico, Silvestre Bello III, Raul Lambino and reelectionist Sens. Ramon Revilla and Lito Lapid.
Pimentel: State of health of candidates a valid issue
SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., meanwhile, said the mental fitness of candidates for President and Vice President must not be withheld from the public because mental incapacity is a ground for removal from public office.
Pimentel made the statement as a reaction to the snowballing call for presidential and vice-presidential candidates in next month’s elections to submit themselves to psychological and physical examinations.
“It’s not right for any candidate to hide from the public any serious ailment that could affect the performance of his duties in case he gets elected, more so when we are talking about the presidency,” said Pimentel.
“In fact, someone elected President may be declared incompetent and replaced by his Vice President in case of insanity,” he stressed.
A psychological examination of Aquino, purportedly conducted by the Ateneo de Manila Department of Psychology in 1996, had surfaced on the Internet. Its genuineness has been denied by the school.
Meanwhile, NP spokesman Gilbert Remulla warned yesterday that a mentally unstable person elected as President can drag the Philippines into war during moments of “lucid interference.”
“What if we elect a polar manic-depressive as President and he suddenly decides to declare war on Malaysia or Indonesia during a moment of lucid interference?” asked Remulla.
“Isn’t it very dangerous to put the lives of the millions of Filipinos into the hands of a President who may not be in full control of his mental faculties?” he added.
Remulla said this is the reason Villar had urged all presidential and vice-presidential candidates to undergo physical and psychological examinations in May.
Langit on Pinoys in Thailand
Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial candidate Rey Langit urged the government on Tuesday to start mapping out contingency measures for possible evacuation of Filipinos in Thailand.
Langit said the recent outbreak of violence between protesters and the military that left at least 17 people dead is an indication that the political impasse in Thailand is far from over and, thus, could lead to another wave of violent clashes in the future.
“We should be ready. While I pray that the political crisis in Thailand will be resolved peacefully, I believe we should plan for a worst-case scenario,” said Langit.
The protest actions in Thailand have been going on for a long time now, with supporters of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra demanding the resignation of government officials to give way for snap elections.
Langit said the death of several protesters could spark more violent incidents in the future. He added that the government should act now to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Thailand. He called on Philippine Embassy officials in Thailand to start briefing Filipinos there on what to do and where to go if in case the security situation gets worse.
Comelec mock elections in San Juan City
AFTER the success of its first leg on Saturday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will conduct anew actual demonstrations of the automated election system in San Juan City on April 17 and 24, in coordination with the San Juan City Civilian Volunteers (SJCCV).
Some 8,300 registered voters of the city are expected to participate in the actual voting exercises, Wenceslao Vinzons Tan, SJCCV chairman, said.
During the first leg of the activity, some 300 senior citizen voters participated at the Senior Citizens Room at the back of Casa Reyes in Greenhills Shopping Center.
A sociocivic volunteer group, the SJCCV, which has been undertaking projects in support of the Comelec every election since 1992, is sponsoring the project aimed at educating the voting public on the new system of election.
On April 17, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, some 3,000 new and transferee voters are expected to attend the mock elections at the San Juan City Gymnasium.
On the other hand, some 5,000 long-timer voters are expected to join the practice vote on April 24, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, at the Filoil Flying V Arena.
The registered voters will also experience finding and verifying their names on the voting list and finding their precincts.
Comelec Chairman Jose A.R. Melo and three other former Comelec commissioners are participating in the event.
The three are former Comelec chairmen Bernardo Pardo and Christian Monsod, and former commissioner Resurrecion Borra.
Comelec summons Velarde
THE Comelec has ordered El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde to appear in a hearing on April 20 to explain why he should not be disqualified as a nominee of Buhay arty-list group. The case arose when broadcaster Rolando Layug filed a complaint against Velarde and Buhay, citing provisions of the Constitution and the party-list law prohibiting the religious sector from participating in elections.
Layug pointed out that Buhay had already been disqualified by the Comelec for being a religious group, but its disqualification had been temporarily set aside by the Supreme Court (SC) because the complainants, lawyer JV Bautista and Mohammad Omar Fajardo, failed to present any evidence. Along with his petition, Layug submitted to the Comelec genuine campaign materials of Buhay showing the picture of Velarde.
El Shaddai spokesman Mel Robles defended Velarde, claiming that the jurisprudence that party-list organizations must represent the marginalized and underrepresented “does not apply” to Buhay. Robles himself is a respondent in a case currently pending before the Supreme Court. There are two contending factions within Buhay; one led by Robles; the other by Christian Señeres, who represented Buhay in Congress for two terms.
The petition in the SC was filed by Señeres in 2007. In his petition, Señeres questioned a Comelec resolution recognizing Robles as president of Buhay while concurrently serving as administrator of the Light Rail Transit Authority, notwithstanding the legal prohibition on public officers from engaging in partisan political activity. In their resolution, a majority of the Comelec commissioners said they were “not convinced” that the prohibition applied to Robles
DAVAO CITY—Speaker Prospero Nograles on Tuesday doused speculations that he was bolting from the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, and denied that he was contemplating on joining the Nacionalista Party (NP) of presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Villar.
“Why should I resign from the party?” he told reporters here after midnight Tuesday shortly before he was to cap the rally of the Team Nograles at the SIR New Matina gymnasium.
Nograles said he categorically denies all speculations circulating lately in the aftermath of his letter to the Lakas-Kampi-CMD where he expressed his disappointment at a series of moves that he said seemed to sideline the senior members of the party.
He warned that a “wrecking crew” was working inside, and said, “I cannot understand why they seemed to relegate the senior members of the party into senior advisers on special concerns for whatever concerns they could think of.”
In Davao City, for instance, the Lakas leadership has appointed a member of the Marfori family, an influential landed family engaged in business and real estate and other businesses, which he said was known in Davao City as a supporter of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno Aquino III and the Dutertes, of which the daughter is his rival for the mayoral post.
“I don’t know now what’s my role. They have me as their vice chairman, but they have been doing things that I have not been informed,” he said. He said he was not even briefed on his role in the presidential bid of former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro since the start of the campaign.
Nograles also denied that he was planning to move over to NP, saying that he was not keen on it “what with how they have been attacking us.”
Asked if something could still be done to mend the differences with the current party leadership, he said: “I also don’t know, if it would be the national leaders who would reach out to us in the localities, or it would be us in the local to reach out to them.”
“Right now, I dont care what they are doing there. All I am concerned is my campaign for my Team Nograles here,” he said.
Nograles said Lakas-Kampi-CMD has “a lot of problems” to attend to even after the elections.
LP sees surge of defectors to Aquino camp
THE LP is in the midst of backroom talks that will see a fresh wave of defectors from other rival parties, including a prominent Arroyo administration ally from the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, in a bid to boost up its chances of winning the May 10 presidential derby.
But LP presidential bet Sen. Benigno Aquino III declined to name the “prized recruits” set to jump over to the LP camp, when asked in Cebu if there will be more defections to his party following Reps. Boyet Gonzales of Mandaluyong and Roilo Golez of Parañaque.
Aquino begged off from naming the potential defectors, explaining to reporters he did not want to preempt the talks, “pero guarantee ko sa inyo parami ng parami po iyan.”
“Next week, magugulat kayo, isa sa mga stalwarts ng kasalukuyang administrasyon sasama sa kampanya natin,” he said. “Pero pakiusap ko huwag natin banggitin muna. [In] less than a week malalaman ninyo iyan.”
Aquino added they also expect to take in another set of recruits from other political parties. “Tinatapos lang ang kaunting negotiations. Habang lumalapit ang araw ng election, palagay ko magiging avalanche itong sasama sa atin.”
Villar’s priority: Improve tax collection
WHEN elected president, NP standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar vowed to work on improving the tax-collection system as one of his priorities in order to increase government revenues and enhance its services on education, health and infrastructure.
Villar said multitasking is a trait that is important in a President and this should be complemented with an ability to provide the mechanics for better tax administration and collection so that the intended beneficiaries will receive public services and projects.
“Alam po ninyo, hindi puwedeng i-rank iyan [education, health and infrastructure services],” Villar said, when asked which of the three public services will be his priority if elected president. “Dapat iyan ay sabay-sabay.”
The NP standard-bearer said leadership, competence and experience are the qualities that the next president must possess to be able to tackle the country’s problems from Day One onward.
“Ito ang sinasabi ko na ang pangulo ay [dapat maging] multitasker kasi hindi puwedeng ito muna ang uunahin ko, pangalawa ito muna, pangatlo ito,” he added. “Sabay-sabay ho iyan, masyadong behind na ang education, kalusugan at infrastructure natin.”
But Villar underscored that the stewardship of a multitasking President could be undermined by limited funds. Thus, he is banking on improving revenue collection to beef up the national coffers.
Noynoy ‘liable’ for graft
LP presidential bet Sen. Benigno Aquino III is not above the law, and he should be punished for crimes he allegedly committed when his mother was still President.
NP senatorial candidate Adel Tamano said Aquino was liable for violating the Constitution and the Antigraft and Corrupt Practices Act, or Republic Act 3019, when he and his relatives put up Best Security Agency Inc. (BSA) in 1986 shortly after his mother, Corazon Aquino, became president.
“The involvement of Noynoy Aquino in that security agency is a serious matter. If documents that are of public record are in fact true and contracts have been entered into while President Cory Aquino was in office, then this is a violation of RA 3019 and the Constitution,” Tamano, a lawyer, said.
Aquino put up BSA in 1986 and sat on the company’s board of directors. He was also vice president from 1986 to 1993. He put up the agency with his uncle, Antolin “Len” Oreta, Jr., who served as BSA chairman and president.
Oreta is the husband of former senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta, who now sits as chairman of the Early Child Care and Development Council and holds the rank of Cabinet member in the Arroyo administration.
Other directors of BSA were Cipriano Lacson, director-treasurer, George Gaddi, Bienvenido Reyes, Alexander Lopez and Jacob Acuna, known friends and allies of the Aquino family.
Records showed that BSA had entered into contracts with government agencies to provide security services while Aquino’s mother was still president.
“The Constitution in regard to the Executive Department imposes limitations on the relatives of the President from entering into government contracts. So, this is a serious matter,” Tamano said.
Ilonggos back Teodoro
ILOILO CITY—Although some members have left the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, most of their colleagues will stick it out with presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro, who continues to receive full backing from party members, especially those who are representing vote-rich cities and provinces.
Before the scheduled rally here on Tuesday night for Teodoro, former justice secretary Raul Gonzalez and House Majority Leader Arthur Defensor reiterated their support to the candidate of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, saying the desertion by some of their former colleagues will not affect Teodoro’s impending victory.
“We’re preparing a large crowd for him, about 20,000, for the rally in Iloilo tonight [Tuesday evening]. That’s a show of massive support to him,” Gonzalez said.
“We are 100-percent supportive of the candidacy of Secretary Teodoro. We will work hard for his victory,” added Defensor.
Iloilo has an estimated 1.3 million voters.
On Monday House Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr. said he was seriously considering leaving the party, while House Deputy Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II joined the LP.
Lakas-Kampi-CMD Rep. Janette Garin of Iloilo, along with other local officials, also vowed to deliver votes for Teodoro.
Garin is a member of a big and powerful political clan headed by former congressman and now Philippine Coconut Authority chief Oscar Garin.
She is running unopposed in the First District.
Passi Mayor Jesry Palmares said the former defense chief will win in his town.
“Gibo has a clear platform of government. He is brilliant and exudes a no-nonsense kind of leadership. The very first time I met him, he immediately caught my attention,” he said of Teodoro.
“His honesty and sincerity to serve this country impressed me so much,” he added.
Aside from Gonzalez and Defensor, Gov. Felipe Nava of nearby Guimaras province is also backing Teodoro’s candidacy.
The other governors in the Visayas who earlier pledged support for Teodoro include Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu, Sally Zaldivar Perez of Antique, Isidro Zayco of Negros Occidental and Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar.
Earlier, local officials of Nueva Ecija assured their support for Teodoro and the Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial candidates during a rally in the province on Monday.
Gov. Aurelio Umali, Rep. Cherry Umali (Third District), Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago (Second District), San Jose City Mayor Marivic Violago-Belena and congressional candidate Renato Diaz, along with other officials, vowed to deliver votes for Teodoro, his running mate Edu Manzano, and senatorial bets Rey Langit, Ramon Guico, Silvestre Bello III, Raul Lambino and reelectionist Sens. Ramon Revilla and Lito Lapid.
Pimentel: State of health of candidates a valid issue
SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., meanwhile, said the mental fitness of candidates for President and Vice President must not be withheld from the public because mental incapacity is a ground for removal from public office.
Pimentel made the statement as a reaction to the snowballing call for presidential and vice-presidential candidates in next month’s elections to submit themselves to psychological and physical examinations.
“It’s not right for any candidate to hide from the public any serious ailment that could affect the performance of his duties in case he gets elected, more so when we are talking about the presidency,” said Pimentel.
“In fact, someone elected President may be declared incompetent and replaced by his Vice President in case of insanity,” he stressed.
A psychological examination of Aquino, purportedly conducted by the Ateneo de Manila Department of Psychology in 1996, had surfaced on the Internet. Its genuineness has been denied by the school.
Meanwhile, NP spokesman Gilbert Remulla warned yesterday that a mentally unstable person elected as President can drag the Philippines into war during moments of “lucid interference.”
“What if we elect a polar manic-depressive as President and he suddenly decides to declare war on Malaysia or Indonesia during a moment of lucid interference?” asked Remulla.
“Isn’t it very dangerous to put the lives of the millions of Filipinos into the hands of a President who may not be in full control of his mental faculties?” he added.
Remulla said this is the reason Villar had urged all presidential and vice-presidential candidates to undergo physical and psychological examinations in May.
Langit on Pinoys in Thailand
Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial candidate Rey Langit urged the government on Tuesday to start mapping out contingency measures for possible evacuation of Filipinos in Thailand.
Langit said the recent outbreak of violence between protesters and the military that left at least 17 people dead is an indication that the political impasse in Thailand is far from over and, thus, could lead to another wave of violent clashes in the future.
“We should be ready. While I pray that the political crisis in Thailand will be resolved peacefully, I believe we should plan for a worst-case scenario,” said Langit.
The protest actions in Thailand have been going on for a long time now, with supporters of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra demanding the resignation of government officials to give way for snap elections.
Langit said the death of several protesters could spark more violent incidents in the future. He added that the government should act now to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Thailand. He called on Philippine Embassy officials in Thailand to start briefing Filipinos there on what to do and where to go if in case the security situation gets worse.
Comelec mock elections in San Juan City
AFTER the success of its first leg on Saturday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will conduct anew actual demonstrations of the automated election system in San Juan City on April 17 and 24, in coordination with the San Juan City Civilian Volunteers (SJCCV).
Some 8,300 registered voters of the city are expected to participate in the actual voting exercises, Wenceslao Vinzons Tan, SJCCV chairman, said.
During the first leg of the activity, some 300 senior citizen voters participated at the Senior Citizens Room at the back of Casa Reyes in Greenhills Shopping Center.
A sociocivic volunteer group, the SJCCV, which has been undertaking projects in support of the Comelec every election since 1992, is sponsoring the project aimed at educating the voting public on the new system of election.
On April 17, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, some 3,000 new and transferee voters are expected to attend the mock elections at the San Juan City Gymnasium.
On the other hand, some 5,000 long-timer voters are expected to join the practice vote on April 24, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, at the Filoil Flying V Arena.
The registered voters will also experience finding and verifying their names on the voting list and finding their precincts.
Comelec Chairman Jose A.R. Melo and three other former Comelec commissioners are participating in the event.
The three are former Comelec chairmen Bernardo Pardo and Christian Monsod, and former commissioner Resurrecion Borra.
Comelec summons Velarde
THE Comelec has ordered El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde to appear in a hearing on April 20 to explain why he should not be disqualified as a nominee of Buhay arty-list group. The case arose when broadcaster Rolando Layug filed a complaint against Velarde and Buhay, citing provisions of the Constitution and the party-list law prohibiting the religious sector from participating in elections.
Layug pointed out that Buhay had already been disqualified by the Comelec for being a religious group, but its disqualification had been temporarily set aside by the Supreme Court (SC) because the complainants, lawyer JV Bautista and Mohammad Omar Fajardo, failed to present any evidence. Along with his petition, Layug submitted to the Comelec genuine campaign materials of Buhay showing the picture of Velarde.
El Shaddai spokesman Mel Robles defended Velarde, claiming that the jurisprudence that party-list organizations must represent the marginalized and underrepresented “does not apply” to Buhay. Robles himself is a respondent in a case currently pending before the Supreme Court. There are two contending factions within Buhay; one led by Robles; the other by Christian Señeres, who represented Buhay in Congress for two terms.
The petition in the SC was filed by Señeres in 2007. In his petition, Señeres questioned a Comelec resolution recognizing Robles as president of Buhay while concurrently serving as administrator of the Light Rail Transit Authority, notwithstanding the legal prohibition on public officers from engaging in partisan political activity. In their resolution, a majority of the Comelec commissioners said they were “not convinced” that the prohibition applied to Robles
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