MAGSASAKA Party-list Rep. Robert Nazal is ready to put the brouhaha over his nomination behind him, saying it's time to work amid the ongoing food supply situation.
This, as Nazal welcomed the Supreme Court's (SC) non-issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruling that eventually paved the way for his proclamation as a party-list representative in the 19th Congress.
“With this ruling, we can now focus on our work in the House of Representatives and that is to introduce and pass legislation that would address the plight of our impoverished farmers,” Nazal said.
“The country is currently facing food security challenges. We need to unite and work together to come up with urgent and concrete solutions to these challenges," he added.
The TRO was sought by a group identified with former MAGSASAKA Party-list Rep. Argel Joseph Cabatbat that filed a petition seeking review of the Comelec ruling that favored MAGSASAKA national chair Soliman Villamin Jr., who was recognized by the poll body as the legitimate leader of the party-list organization.
Nazal belongs to the Villamin faction, which had named him as nominee of MAGSASAKA Party-List. His nomination has been upheld by the Comelec.
Cabatbat was a House member during the previous 18th Congress.
In its resolution dated Oct. 4, 2022, the SC denied the application for TRO and required the Comelec and Villamin to comment within 10 days on the petition for certiorari filed by Cabatbat’s group.
The high court, however, clarified that that its action was “without giving due course to the petition".
The outright denial of a TRO clears the way for the immediate implementation of the Comelec ruling.
On Oct. 10, the Comelec en banc 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.
It's not unusual for elected House members to take their seat belatedly in Congress, especially if they have to contend with election cases or protests against them.
Last week, Nazal paid a courtesy call to House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe.