SC affirms Alcover's leadership of Anad

CEBU, Philippines - A month after it affirmed Rep. Pastor Alcover’s leadership of the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Anad) Partylist, the Supreme Court has ruled with finality in its decision.

The SC en banc denied the motion for reconsideration filed by the group of petitioner David Odilao Jr., former district collector of the Bureau of Customs, to its earlier decision.

On October 4, 2011, SC denied the petition filed by the group of Odilao seeking to reverse two separate rulings of the Comelec Second Division.

The Court resolved to dismiss the petition for failure to sufficiently show that any grave abuse of discretion was committed by the Commission on Elections in rendering the challenged resolution which, on the contrary, appears to be in accord with the facts and applicable law and jurisprudence.

In its resolution dated November 15, 2011, SC ruled to deny with finality the motion for Reconsideration filed by Odilao et al last October 23, 2011 “... as no substantial arguments were presented to warrant the reversal of the questioned resolution.”

“It’s all over and is of great relief,” commented Alcover on the said ruling of the SC en banc.

Aside from Odilao, other petitioners were retired police officer Leborio Jangao, Alexander Canonigo, Bernardo Magbbagu and Herminigildo Gonzaga.

They sought the SC’s relief docketed as G. R. No. 193649 assailing the decision of the Comelec resolution dated October 7, 2010 declaring sitting Alcover to represent Anad Partylist in the 15th Congress.

“Indeed, though how things are manipulated and twisted by people with devious and dubious intentions, eventually truth shall prevail. In our case, our efforts and unwavering perseverance has been given justice by the Supreme Court,” Alcover further said.

ANAD placed 26 from out of 184 party-list groups that participated in the May 2010 elections. It got almost 300,000 votes nationwide, which entitles it a seat in the 56 slots for party-list groups in Congress.  (FREEMAN)