19 ousted party-list groups get reprieve from SC

The Supreme Court building in Manila. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Nineteen more party-list groups disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from running in next year’s polls have obtained a status quo ante order (SQAO) from the Supreme Court.

The SQAO, issued on Dec. 11, prevents the Comelec from enforcing the disqualification while the appeals cases filed by the party-list groups remained pending before the high court. The order also meant that unless otherwise ordered by the Court, the poll body may not exclude the groups’ names from the official ballots that would be printed.

The groups that obtained the SQAO were Akbay Kalusugan, Inc. (Akin); Ako An Bisaya (AAB); Binhi-Partido ng mga Magsasaka Para sa Magsasaka (Binhi), Alagad ng Sining (Asin), Association of Guard, Utility Helper, Aider, Rider, Driver, Domestic Helper, Janitor, Agent and Nanny of the Philippines Inc. (Guardjan); Kalikasan Party-List (Kalikasan); Pilipino Association for Country-Urban Poor Youth Advancement and Welfare (PAcyaw); 1-United Transport Coalition (1-Utak);

The Coalition of Association of Senior Citizens in the Philippines Inc. and its rival Coalition of Associations of Senior Citizens in the Philippines Inc., both having the acronym Senior Citizens; Association of Local Athletics Entrepreneurs and Hobbyists Inc. (Ala-Eh); Ang Galing Pinoy (AG); 1-Alliance Advocating Autonomy Party (1AAAP); Abyan Ilongo Party (AI); Manila Teachers Savings and Loans Association Inc. (Manila Teachers); Partido ng Bayan Ang Bida (PBB); Alliance of Organizations, Networks and Associations of the Philippines Inc. (Alona); 1st Kabalikat ng Bayan Ginhawang Sangkatauhan (1st Kabagis); and Pilipinas Para sa Pinoy (PPP).

The Supreme Court has issued SQAOs benefiting a total of 33 party-list groups, most of which were disqualified by Comelec for not representing marginalized sectors.