STA. MARIA, Bulacan–A 25 year old rich businessman running for the sixth congressional district position in Bulacan remains to be a nuisance candidate as the Commission on Election (Comelec) has yet to receive a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court. Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Sunday.
“There is no TRO,” Garcia told NEWSCORE in a text message reply.
Garcia said the Commission’s en banc decision in November declaring 25 years old businessman Jad Racal as nuisance candidate remains final and executory. Racal belongs to the family who owns and manages the Racal Motors and Builders Company.
The Comelec has disqualified 117 candidates for being nuisance candidates, the chairman also said.
Re-electionist Bulacan Sixth District Rep. Salvador Pleyto had earlier filed before the Comelec a disqualification case against Racal being allegedly a nuisance candidate.
Such declaration for Racal as a nuisance candidate caused the Commission not to include the name of Racal in the printing of ballots for the sixth district.
“There is no real intention to run for public office and making a mockery of the electoral process,” Garcia explained as the reason for the declaration as a nuisance candidate.
However, he refused to further elaborate as the case is still at the SC.
On Sunday, Pleyto, a native of Sta. Maria town joined Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando and Vice Gov. Alexis Catsro in a campaign motorcade in this town under the National Unity Party (NUP).
Racal, who has been reported to be continuously campaigning despite no inclusion of his name in the ballots, had sought a TRO from the high court. But his camp would not give NEWSCORE a copy of the TRO.
“Everyone is entitled to go around if they want to. As far as the Comelec is concern, the decision has become final and executory. We did not receive a restraining order and therefore his name is not included in the ballot because of the declaration that he is a nuisance candidate. The merits of the case is now in the SC. In the meantime that he is continuously campaigning, we cannot stop him from doing that. If he believes that he is still a candidate. If he believes that he is still a candidate, we cannot prevent him from doing so. As far as the Comelec is concerned, we did our job as far as the case is concerned. We only await what will be the decision of the SC,” Garcia told NEWSCORE after he spoke as the main speaker in the Philippine Press Institute (PPI’s) Midyang Responsible, Mapanuring Botante, midterm election forum on April 11 at Novotel in Quezon City.
The camp of Racal cannot be contacted for his comment.
But in an MSNI TV interview early this month, that was shared in social media, Racal said his intention to run and become an elected public leader is rooted from their family’s desire to help the people of the sixth district of Bulacan.
He said as a family of businessmen and one who learned and was influenced by his father in helping others, they invested into 120 hectare property in Bulacan’s sixth district where 800 warehouses will be located which will provide 15,000-20,000 jobs to the residents.
“My father and I witnessed how dole out and ayuda are merely just temporary aides to the people. What they really need are jobs and that’s what we will provide them,” he said.
Racal said their family was surprised that many people in Angat town and other areas in Bulacan’s sixth district are asking for help from their family. Racal Motors and Builders Warehouse.
According to Racal,through their Racal Foundation, they were able to provide P5-million worth of food packs and ayuda in the province of Bulacan during the pandemic.
They also provided separate food packs for Visayas and Mindanao.
During the pandemic P5 million worth na food packs in Bulacan.
However, he said, they became frustrated when they wanted to put up a public hospital but they did not get support from concerned leaders in the sixth district.
In November last year. the camp of Racal filed Violation of RA10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and Violation of RA 9516 or the Illegal Possession of Explosives including Trespass to Dwelling against Lloyd Madulid, from Plaridel town for allegedly trying to harm him and his family for entering their house while armed with hand grenade, firearm and ammunition. Madulid, he said, posed as an indigent seeking for help.
