Navarro: Partylist groups allied with Aquino should not be barred by Comelec

MANILA, Philippines—Groups allied with the administration should not be barred from participating in the partylist elections, Black and White Movement’s first nominee Leah Navarro said Friday over Radyo Inquirer 990 AM.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified civil society group Black and White Movement for failure “to evidently show through its Articles of Incorporation, By-laws, history and track record that it represents and seeks to uplift the marginalized sectors of women, youth, and urban poor.”

Following Black and White Movement’s disqualification, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes was quoted as saying that their decision had erased doubts that they were “yellow” (the color of President Benigno Aquino III).

“Why are you going to make us the escape goat? Bakit kami?…I feel that there is bias saka we have to have legal basis,” Navarro said.

“When you are allied with the administration, it does not mean you should be barred from participation. There is nothing in the partylist law which says you should not be allied with the administration,” she added.

The Black and White Movement intends to take their case to the Supreme Court.