Lawyer running for senator tells Comelec he is not a nuisance candidate

A lawyer and University of Sto. Tomas professor opposed the Commission on Elections' move to declare him a nuisance candidate, saying that his financial standing and present technological advancement make him capable of launching a nationwide campaign.

Lawyer Angelo de Alban, in his verified answer filed before the Comelec dated October 30, argued that him being a lawyer and professor traveling across the country and even abroad exposed him to different struggles and challenges that his countrymen endure, thus fueling his resolve to serve the country as a senator who can help enact laws that would improve the lives of Filipinos. 

When he filed his certificate of candidacy before Comelec, De Alban said he will prioritize pushing for measures for special education which will strengthen the rights of people with special needs, especially the right to assisted living.

“There is nothing in the prescribed certificate of candidacy (COC) that prompts or gives chance for a candidate to give an idea on financial capability. It is an error to assume that de Alban will not be able to sustain the financial rigors of waging a nationwide campaign as demonstrated by his recent and extensive travel nationwide with the intention to bring forth his advocacy long before he filed his COC,” De Alban's answer read.

De Alban then cited that before he filed his COC in October, he met civil and political leaders across the country from June to September to feel the pulse of various sectors and seek their support for his Senate bid.

He claimed that he met these sectors in Northern Luzon, Samar, Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Island, Panay island, Palawan, Zamboanga peninsula, Cagayan de Oro, Malaybalay in Bukidnon, Kidapawan in Cotabato, Datu Paglas in Maguindanao, Tacurong in Sultan Kudarat, General Santos City in Cotabato, Alabel in Sarangani, Digos in Davao del Sur, Tagum in Davao de Norte, Davao City and Butuan.

He also said he made the same consultation abroad during a visit to Israel in January to February this year, as well as in London last June.

In all of these, De Alban said he spent for land, air, water and transportation fees, food, hotel and other board and lodging dues.

“Despite such hectic schedule, he did not get sick and was able to comply with his financial obligations. At 37 years old and at the peak of his health, de Alban is physically fit to travel around the country,” the lawyer-professor pointed out.

“The aforementioned clearly disputes the allegations that De Alban is a nuisance candidate who has no bona fide intention to run and has no financial capacity to wage a nationwide campaign, assuming that the latter is an actual consideration for disqualification,” he added.

Facebook enhances campaign

De Alban then contended that he has also placed advertisements on Facebook from September 27 to October 15, resulting in 91,75,083 impressions and reaching 3,916,766 accounts on top of maintaining a paid website (www.delalban.com) to boost his nationwide campaign.

“De Alban’s campaign is enhanced by his access to unlimited opportunities made available by technological advancement not extensively contemplated in the Omnibus Election Code,” De Alban said.

“In addition to his physical stamina, De Alban seeks to take advantage of social media opportunities through which he may reach millions of voters,” De Alban added.

The Omnibus Election Code defines nuisance candidates as those who file COCs “in mockery of the election process; to cause confusion among the voters by the similarity of the names of the registered candidates or by other circumstances or acts which clearly demonstrate that the candidate has no bona fide intention to run for the office for which the COC has been filed.”

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez reserved the poll body's comment on the merits of De Alban's contentions.

“His claims, formally submitted in an answer, will be thoroughly considered by the Commission,” Jimenez told GMA News Online in a text message. —KG/RSJ, GMA News