Palparan partylist, 5 others may join polls

Retired General and former Congressman Jovito Palparan Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court allowed the partylist group of fugitive Jovito Palparan and five other groups to participate in next year’s election.

In its en-banc session this Tuesday, the high court ruled that the status quo ante order it issued would also cover Palparan’s group Bantay, the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD), 1Brotherhood for reform and Oneness-Philippine Guardians for Brotherhood Incorporated, Agapay ng Indigenous People’s Right Alliance (A-IPRA), Ako Agila sa Nagkakaisang Magsasaka (AKO Agila) and 1Ganap/Guardians.

Last week the high court issued an SQA in favor of AKO Bicol (AKB), Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC), Aksyon Magsasaka-Partidoo Tinig ng Masa (AKMA-PTM), Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala, Inc. (KAKUSA), 1ST Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy Inc (1-CARE), Association for Righteousness Advocacy on Leadership (ARAL) and Alliance for Rural Concerns (ARC).

An SQA is issued to preserve the last actual peaceable and uncontested status before the litigation or filing of a petition. This means it is as if there is no resolution disqualifying them.

The partylist groups trooped to the Supreme Court and filed separate petitions assailing the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision disqualifying them from participating in the 2013 elections.

The groups assailed the Comelec ruling saying their rights to due process were violated when they were automatically disqualified without giving them the chance to explain their side.