Another disqualified partylist seeks reprieve from SC

MANILA, Philippines -The Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization Inc. (ACTO) asked the Supreme Court to reverse the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruling disqualifying them from participating in the 2013 elections.

In a 26-page petition for certiorari, ACTO said Comelec abused its discretion when it ignored the second division’s ruling granting its accreditation as a sectoral organization under the partylist system of representation.

ACTO added that Comelec en banc violated its rights to due process and equal protection of laws saying they were disqualified without allowing them to air their side and defend their accreditation.

“The setting aside of the resolution allowing registration was arbitrary and despotic. The reasons given for withdrawing the grant of registration or accreditation—possible conflict of interest between the drivers and the operators, and the alleged disqualification of ACTO’s second nominee— are not provided for by R.A. No. 7941,” the petition read.

ACTO represents operators and drivers of public transport vehicles, claims to have some 265,000 members nationwide.

ACTO was accredited by the Comelec in 2004 but was later delisted for failure to participate in the 2007 elections and for failure to secure 2% of the votes in the 2004 polls.