Comelec Declares Rizalito David as Nuisance Candidate; Cancels His CoC for President

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has declared presidential aspirant Rizalito David as a nuisance candidate, thus his Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) for the May 2016 polls has been cancelled.

In a six-page decision, the Comelec’s Second Division granted the motto proprio petition filed by the Law Department to declare the respondent as nuisance candidate.

“Wherefore, the petition is granted. Accordingly, Rizalito David is hereby declared a nuisance candidate and his Certificate of Candidacy for President for the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections is hereby cancelled,” said the decision dated Dec. 3 but was released to the media only on Wednesday.

The Comelec said that David failed to convince the commissioners that he could launch a nationwide campaign.

“In the Instant Petition, it is clear that Respondent has no bona fide intention to run for the office he seeks to be elected to. In his CoC as well as in his Answer, Respondent indicated that he is a ‘broadcaster.’ While such is a noble way to earn a living, a clear proof however of his financial capability to run a nationwide campaign is absent,” the decision said.

Likewise, the Second Division, which is headed by Commissioner Al Parreno, with Arthur Lim and Sheriff Abas as members, noted that David also misrepresented himself by claiming that he was endorsed by the group Ang Kapatiran.

His statement was denied by the organization’s president, Norman Cabrera, when he informed the Law Department that they are not fielding candidates in next year’s polls.

“Further, Respondent avers that he is nominated by the Kapatiran Party; however, this was refuted by the President of Kapatiran, Norman V. Cabrera, who stated in his letter to Director Maria Norina S. Tangaro-Casingal of the Comelec Law Department that “Kapatiran Party did not submit any list and specimen signatures of the party’s authorized signatures who will sign Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance,” the decision said.

It added, “Consequently, Respondent can only be considered to be running as an independent candidate or one without support by a political party. Although it is no guarantee that political party nomination will boost a candidate’s capability to launch a nationwide campaign, running as independent candidate further decreases a candidate’s capability for such rigorous and very expensive campaign, as there will be no political party to support him.”

David filed his CoC for president last Oct. 12. (PNA) SCS/FGP/EDS