SC suspends disqualification of 9 party-list groups

MANILA, Philippines - Another status quo ante order from the Supreme Court (SC) suspended the disqualification of Partido Ng Mga Magsasaka Para Sa Mga Magsasaka (BINHI) and eight more party-list groups yesterday.

The eight others are: Akbay Kalusugan, Inc. (AKIN), Ako An Bisaya (AAB), Alagad ng Sining (ASIN), Association of Guard Utility Helper, Aider, Rider, Driver, Domester Helper, Janitor, Agent and Nanny of the Philippines, Inc. (GUARDIAN), Alliance of Organizations, Networks and Associations of the Philippines, Inc. (ALONA), 1st Kabalikat ng Bayan Ginhawang Sangkatauhan (1st Kabagis), Pilipinas Para sa Pinoy (PPP) and Coalition of Association of Senior Citizens in the Philippines Inc.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said yesterday the scheduled raffle of party-list groups on Monday will not push through.

Comelec Resolution No. 9577 postponed the raffle in consideration of the petitions in the SC of several disqualified party-list groups.

The raffle will be done on Jan. 4 “to give party-list groups more time to prepare.”

By raffling off the names of the party-list group, the Comelec intends to determine their placing on the ballots.

The raffle will eliminate the imbalance in the party-list system.

In previous polls, the names of party-list groups were printed in alpha-numeric sequence.

As such, those whose names start with number 1 or letter A landed on the top portion of the ballots.

The latest status quo ante order has brought to 52 the total number of disqualified party-list groups that the SC has given relief to.

The SC has directed the Comelec to keep all nine petitioners in the list of qualified party-list groups set to be raffled on Jan. 4 next year for their order in the ballot to be printed next month.

BINHI will temporarily keep its slot in the poll body’s list until the SC rules on the merits of its plea before the May 2013 polls.

Its five nominees – Ryan Vincent. Uy, Pacifico Rico Fajardo Jr., Nelson Villanueva, Victoriano. Perez Jr. and Rodolfo Torreda Jr. – have also kept their chances for slots in the House of Representatives.

BINHI lawyer Charita Agdon cited Comelec’s schedule, which shows that the official list of candidates to be included in the ballots to be printed next month is set to be finalized this month.

Agdon cited a clear “irreparable injury” the petitioner stands to suffer should the SC fail to stop the implementation of the Comelec resolution.

BINHI asked the SC to stop the “whimsical, abusive” cancelation of its accreditation and registration by the poll body in a resolution last Nov. 28 for the mere reason that its members are affiliated with a cooperative in Cabanatuan City.

Comelec acted without jurisdiction or with grave abuse of discretion in canceling its registration considering it has fully complied with requirements under the law, BINHI added.

BINHI cited as basis an earlier resolution dated Nov. 19, 2009 where the poll body granted it accreditation and registration as a sectoral party duly representing peasants, farmers and farm tillers – sectors covered in Section 5 of Republic Act 7941, the Party-list System Act.

BINHI questioned its disqualification simply because its members belong to the Cabanatuan City Seed Growers Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

The Comelec’s interpretation would “deprive it, as well as the other marginalized groups the chance to explore all avenues possible for their betterment,” BINHI added.

BINHI  accused the poll body of grave abuse of discretion by suddenly declaring it as not marginalized or underrepresented when its accreditation and registration were never questioned or voided in any court.

Earlier this week, the SC issued a similar order to Ang Galing Pinoy party-list (AG) of Rep. Mikey Arroyo and nine other groups:

Philippine Association for Country-Urban Poor Youth Advancement Welfare (PACYAW), 1-United Transport Coalition (1-UTAK), Kalikasan partylist, Association of Local Athletics Entrepreneurs and Hobbyists Inc. (ALA-EH), Coalition of Association of Senior Citizens in the Philippines Inc. (Sr. Citizen), 1-Alliance Advocating Autonomy (1AAAP), Abyan Ilonggo Party (AI), Manila Teachers Savings and Loans Association Inc. (Manila Teachers) and Partido ng Bayan ang Bida (PBB).

A total of 33 disqualified party-list groups have already been covered under a status quo ante order first issued last Nov. 13.

The order initially covered eight groups: Ako Bicol (AKB), Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC), 1st Consumer’s Alliance for Rural Energy Inc. (1CARE) and Alliance for Rural Concerns (ARC), Aksyon Magsasaka-Partido Tinig ng Masa (Akma-PTM), Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala Inc. (Kakusa), Alliance for Rural and Agrarian Reconstruction Inc. (Araro) and Association for Righteousness Advocacy on Leadership (ARAL).

Last Nov. 20, the SC covered three more groups in its order: Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Anad), Philippine Guardian Brotherhood Inc. (1Bro-PGBI) and Agapay ng Indigenous Peoples Rights Alliance Inc. (A-IPRA).

Last Nov. 27, four more groups were added to the list: Bantay of controversial retired Gen. Jovito Palparan, Agri-Agra na reporma Para sa Magsasaka ng Pilipinas Movement (Agri), Action Brotherhood for Active Dreamers Inc. (Abroad) and Coconut Producers Federation (Cocofed).

Last week, 18 more groups were added to the list, including Friends of Imelda Romualdez Marcos (FIRM 24k), Atong Paglaum, Kaagapay ng Nagkakaisang Aguilang Pilipinong Magsasaka (KAP), Alab ng Mamamahayag (ALAB), Aangat Tayo, Abang Lingkod, Alliance of Bicolnon (ABP-Bicolnon), A Blessed Federation of Farmers and Fishermen International Inc. (A Blessed), Ang Agrikultura Natin Isulong (AANI) and United Movement Against Drugs Foundation Inc. (Unimad), Bayani, Action League of Indigenous Masses (ALIM), Butil Farmers (Butil), Alliance of Advocates in Mining Advancement for National Progress (AAMA), Social Movement for Active Reform and Transparency (SMART), Adhikain at Kilusan ng Ordinaryong Tao Para sa Lupa, Hanapbuhay at Kaunlaran (Ako Bahay), 1 Guardians Nationalist of the Philippines Inc. (1Ganap Guardians) and Green Force.– With Sheila Crisostomo