Another party-list group seeks SC relief

MANILA, Philippines - A party-list group belatedly disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has sought a last-minute relief from the Supreme Court (SC).

In an urgent motion, the Confederation of Savings and Loan Associations Inc. (Consla) asked the high court to order the inclusion of its name in the ballot for the May elections.

The group said it was unfair that their name was not included in the status quo ante order issued by the SC last Nov. 13, just because they only filed their petition a month after the issuance of the order.

The status quo ante order allowed 52 party-list groups to keep their slots in the ballot.

“It is of no fault on the part of the Consla that it filed its petition only on Dec. 18, as the Omnibus Resolution of the Comelec to disqualify Consla as a duly accredited sectoral party-list organization was promulgated only on Dec. 10,” the petitioner said.

 Consla said it deserved to be covered by the status quo ante order since it was in a similar situation with the other groups earlier covered by the order.

Just like the other party-list groups in the status quo ante order, Consla was given accreditation and registration by the Comelec in 2009 and had participated in the 2010 national elections.

The petition said Consla and the 52 groups were discredited on the same grounds by the Comelec.

“Consla merely differs with them as to the date of the filing of the petition,” it said.

The group also told the SC that after its compliance with all the requirements, the Comelec on Nov. 6, 2009 “accredited and declared Consla to possess the qualifications and none of the disqualifications for a party-list organization.”

“As a duly accredited sectoral organization under the Party-List System, Consla has the right to participate in the Party-List System of Representation in the upcoming May 13 national and local elections, and the corresponding right to be voted upon by the public,” it said.

Retired Air Force Col. Ricardo Nolasco Jr., president and nominee of Consla, said the confederation “is an organization recognized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and has more than seven million members belonging to the marginalized sectors of the society.”

He identified these sectors as enlisted military and police personnel, teachers, rank and file employees of the government and private sectors, market vendors, mine workers, public school teachers and small entrepreneurs.”