Comelec junks petition to disqualify Makabayan bloc, Neri Colmenares

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division has thrown out a petition filed against the Makabayan bloc of the House of Representatives and Bayan Muna chair Neri Colmenares in connection to the 2019 national elections.

In a resolution dated January 3, 2020, the Comelec First Division dismissed the bid of Kababaihang Maralita Secretary-General Angela Aguilar to cancel the registration of the groups under the Makabayan bloc as party-list groups and the disqualification of Colmenares as a senatorial candidate.

The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives is composed of Bayan Mauna Party List, Kabataan Party List, Alliance of Concerned Teachers Party List (ACT-Teachers), and the General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leader and Action Party List (GABRIELA).

NPA connection

Under the petition filed in April 2019, as stated in the 2020 resolution, Aguilar alleged that the respondents are connected to the New People’s Army.

Aguilar was a former political officer of KAGUMA-NDF-CPP-NPA (Katipunan ng Gurong Makabayan), hence, “is fully aware of the dirty, manipulative, scrupulous, and scheming tactics of the communist insurgents to pursue their goals of destabilizing the government”, the Comelec document states.

Aguilar further said respondents “continue to abuse the party-list system in order to further their motive of toppling the government and President Rodrigo Duterte.”

The petitioner then filed a supplemental petition in May 2019.

Lack of interest, essential proof

However, Comelec noted in the resolution that Aguilar failed to attend the hearing on her petition and that she could not be located in her given address, as alleged by the respondents in their memorandum.

“[Aguilar’s] lack of genuine interest to prosecute this case is, therefore, manifest,” Comelec said.

Comelec added that Aguilar failed to provide substantive evidence to support her claims.

“Accordingly, for what of evidence, [Aguilar’s] claim that grounds to exist to warrant cancellation of Party-list Respondents’ registration in the party-list system and the disqualification of Respondent Colmenares has no leg to stand on,” Comelec said.

In the petition, Aguilar included photographs allegedly depicting oversized tarpaulins used by Colmenares and the party-list groups.

But, this was also ditched by Comelec.

“No independent proof was proffered to corroborate her (Aguilar) testimony that it was the Respondents which actually caused the making, distribution, and posting of the campaign materials bearing subversive statements against the present administration,” Comelec said.

“Neither is there credible proof that it was Respondents which actually caused the posting, display or exhibition of the oversized campaign materials outside of authorized common poster areas, in public places, or in private properties without the consent of the owner,” the poll body also said.

‘Harassment’ case

House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate labeled the case as a “harassment case” against them.

“Talagang pakana lang ito ng mga gustong siraan, lalong-lalo na sa security sector, ang Makabayan bloc,” Zarate told reporters.

(This is just really a scheme of those who want to tarnish, especially those in the security sector, the Makabayan bloc.)

Zarate said they will file counter-charges against Aguilar and other persons behind the case.

In the 18th Congress, Bayan Muna has three seats in the House of Representatives while ACT-Teachers, Kabataan, and Gabriela have one each.

Colmenares, meanwhile, failed to win in the senatorial elections.

KGA