Comelec rejects 'sabungeros'

MANILA, Philippines - The hopes of an alliance of cockfighting aficionados to be represented in Congress have been dashed as the second division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) rejected the application for accreditation of Alyansa Sabungero.

In a resolution, the second division headed by Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer ruled that the petition of Alyansa Sabungero was “not verified and does not conform with Section 5 of Republic Act 7941” or the party-list law.

Under the law, “any organized group of persons may register as a party, organization or coalition for purposes of the party-list system by filing with the Comelec not later than 90 days before the election a petition verified by its president or secretary stating its desire to participate in the party-list system.”

The verification should include the group’s constitution and bylaws, platform of government, list of officers, agreement and other relevant information.

But in a motion for reconsideration filed with the Comelec, Alyansa Sabungero founder Nid Anima said the poll body’s “adverse resolution… has been done without due process…

“Alyansa Sabungero never having been called to a hearing and thus, never given its proverbial day (in) court,” he noted.

Anima added that it was an “oversight on the part of Alyansa Sabungero to skip on things it thinks as obvious” as he mentioned requirements for putting up a party-list organization.

These requirements include nationwide coverage, non-affiliation with any religious sect or denomination, adherence to law and being non-recipient of foreign funding.

Aside from filing a motion for reconsideration, the group had also lodged a supplemental petition that seeks to “correct the infirmities in its original petition.”