MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court on Tuesday, February 23, dismissed the petitions filed by 5 party-list groups that were not allowed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to join the 2016 polls.

The SC junked 4 petitions for certiorari, prohibition and/or mandamus against the Comelec by the following party-list groups:

• Bisdak Hugpong sa mga Bisaya Alang sa Kauswagan ug Kaangayan Inc. (BISDAK)
• Integrated Land and Agri Workers Incorporated (ILAW or ILAW Inc.)
• Isang Adbokasiya sa Alternatibong Panggagamot, Pagsasaka at Pangkabuhayan (1ASAPPP)
• Pilipinos Aspiring for Country’s Yes-Man Advancement Organization (PACYAO) and Workers Advocating for Reform and Advancement of Yes-Man (WARAY)

PACYAO and WARAY filed a joint petition before the Supreme Court. 

The SC said the Comelec en banc did not act with grave abuse of discretion when it dismissed the groups’ petition for registration and accreditation to participate in the 2016 party list race. 

This brings to 37 the number of petitions the SC had dismissed since January 26 with regards to pleas filed by party-list groups to stop or junk the Comelec’s rulings.

On January 26, the SC junked 17 petitions; the following week, the Court dismissed 11 more. On February 16, the petitions of the following 5 groups were likewise dismissed:

• Ang Kaliwat Party List
• Bantay Laban sa Kriminalidad (BALAK)
• Kapisanan ng mga Netizens sa Filipinas, Inc.
• Koalisyon at Aksyon Nag-iimpok para sa Ekonomiya at Gabay ng mga Organisasyon ng Sambayanang May Yamang Oras (1-KANEGOSYO)
• United Towards Organic Development Inc. (UTOD)

In addition, the SC on Tuesday denied with finality the motions for reconsideration by the following groups:

• Abante Bicol Oragon Philippines Inc.
• Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino (ALIF)
• Ating Aral Regional Sectoral Party
• Stop and Go Transport Coalition
• United Women Against Poverty (UWAP)

Only 115 out of 210 organizations that filed their intent to join the party-list race are on the official ballot for the May 9 polls.

Meanwhile, the SC also dismissed the petitions of the following individuals against the Comelec, which cancelled their certificates of candidacy after they were deemed nuisance bets:

• Gerald Balta Arcega, Juanito Bombase Luna, Bethsaida D. Lopez, and Eric Abuyen Negapatan, all running for President
• Emmanuel S.D. Lopez, for Senator

The High Court likewise denied with finality the motions for reconsideration filed by presidential aspirant Camilo Sabio and senatorial aspirant Roberto Gloria Reyes, also known as Amay Bisaya. – Rappler.com