SC stops Comelec from disqualifying 3 more party-list groups

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court stopped the Commission on Elections on November 20 from disqualifying 3 other partylist groups from the 2013 midterm elections.

The SC said the party-list groups Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy, Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc. and Agapay ng Indigenous People Rights Alliance Inc. are also covered by the status quo ante order issued by the High Court on November 7.

In the said resolution, the SC barred the Comelec from enforcing its resolution that disqualified 8 other partylist groups from seeking congressional seats in the 2013 elections.

The Comelec disqualified the partylist groups Aksyon Magsasaka-Partido Tinig ng Masa or AKMA-PTM, Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala (KAKUSA), Association for Righteousness Advocacy on Leadership, and the Alliance for Rural and Agrarian Reconstruction Inc (Araro), Ako Bicol, Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives, 1-Care and Alliance of Rural Concerns because they allegedly not represent marginalized sectors. 

The poll body said that under Republic Act 7941 or the Party-List System Act, marginalized sectors cover only labor, peasant, fisher folks, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, elderly, handicapped, women, youth, veterans, overseas workers and professionals.

The party-list groups said, however, that the poll body deprived them of their right to due process because they were not given the chance to defend their legitimacy. – Rappler.com