Former Interior Secretary and the Liberal Party’s standard-bearer Mar Roxas could be disqualified once COMELEC will enforce its ruling against candidates who are using contributions from an alleged government franchised compay. According to an expose by veteran journalist Jarius Bondoc of Pilipino Star Nagayon, Mar Roxas was using a total of eight aircraft during his campaign sorties in different parts of the Philippines.
The alleged eight aircraft were allegedly borrowed by Mar Roxas from his bankrollers namely Eric Gutierrez and Rep. Edgar Erice, the two businessmen behind the SR Metals Inc. (SRMI) and its subsidiaries, the San R Mining & Construction Corp. and Galeo Equipment & Mining Co. These companies were involved in Nickel Mining at Tubay, Agusan del Norte.
Mar Roxas was also accused by Mayor Duterte that he was supporting the companies of Gutierrez and Erice who were mining in Mindanao in exchange for a favor of lending the aircraft to the Liberal Party’s standard bearer. The mining companies were also behind the aircraft borrowed by Pres. Aquino while he was still running for President.
The “Daang Matuwid” candidate denied the allegations against him with regards to the borrowed aircraft. He denied the allegations by saying that he was renting the eight aircraft from SRMI and he is ready to reveal the contract and the receipt for the transaction.
Jarius Bondoc noted that Mar Roxas could not produce the documents and receipt because there is no truth behind the lease agreement with SRMI, because it is illegal for the company to lease their aircraft, for lack of clearance from the Civil Aeronautics Board and Civil Aviation Authority. The company is a mining firm and not an aircraft chartering company, the journalist revealed.
If there is no lease agreement, it was definitely borrowed which falls against the law. According to the Omnibus Election code, every candidates are prohibited from accepting contributions from companies who were franchisee of the government, particularly mining companies. Mar Roxas use of borrowed aircraft from mining firms could disqualify him from being an official presidential candidate once the Comelec impose the law.