Capiz Vice Governor Faces Disqualification Over Rice Program

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The vice governor of Capiz is facing a disqualification case after his opponent filed a complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) central office on Wednesday, May 7, five days before the midterm elections.

Former Second District board member Eleuper “Bulilit” Martinez personally filed the complaint against re-electionist Vice Governor James “Mitang” Magbanua, citing a violation of Republic Act 9006 in relation to Comelec Resolution No. 11104 on abuse of state resources (ASR).

Martinez based his complaint on the May 3, 2025, launch of the PHP38-per-kilo Rice Program of the National Food Authority (NFA) at the Teodoro Arcenas Trade Center, Roxas City’s premier market.

He said the event was attended by NFA managers from the provinces of Aklan, Iloilo, Antique and Capiz.

Magbanua, as national chairman of the Grains Retailers Confederation of the Philippines (GRECON), was also present at the event.

Martinez said the launch came to his attention after Magbanua posted about it on his Facebook account, but the post was deleted shortly after.

He added that GRECON is a political party and had previously been a party-list candidate in the 2016 elections.

According to Martinez, Magbanua has been in the grains business for five decades, not just in Capiz but across the country, and owns a rice mill in Dao, Capiz.

As the incumbent and a re-electionist, Magbanua’s presence at the NFA event allegedly created a favorable impression among voters and gave him an undue advantage over other candidates, Martinez claimed.

He noted that Magbanua was the only provincial official present, which raised doubts about the true intent of his attendance.

“The said act or attendance of Magbanua in the event is among the prohibited acts enumerated in Comelec Resolution No. 11104, considered as abuse of state resources, i.e., the use of programs, activities, or projects funded by the national government,” Martinez said.

He also alleged that Magbanua covered the food and transportation costs for some attendees.

Martinez said he has asked the Comelec central office to suspend the proclamation of Magbanua should he win re-election.

He added that he is willing to submit additional evidence once NFA Administrator Larry del Rosario Lacson responds to his letter of complaint.

Daily Guardian attempted to get Magbanua’s comment but he was unavailable as of press time.