Savings, loan group appeal to SC

MANILA, Philippines—A party-list group representing small savings and loan groups nationwide is asking the Supreme Court to compel the Commission on Elections to restore its 2009 accreditation as a group qualified to join the party-list elections this May.

In a statement, the Confederation of Savings and Loan Associations Inc. (Consla) asked the high court to include its name in the official ballots being printed for the elections.

In an urgent motion filed on Monday, Consla said it was denied its constitutional right to equal protection of the law when the high court did not issue a status quo ante order to Consla similar to those it issued to 50 other party-list groups.

The orders given by the high court to the 50 other party-list groups restored temporarily their accreditation in the party-list elections and the inclusion of their names on the ballots.

In its statement, Consla said it is on equal footing with the groups that got relief from the high court.

Ricardo L. Nolasco Jr., retired Air Force colonel and Consla head, said Consla is a group recognized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and has seven million members who are small depositors and borrowers who belong to the marginalized sector of society.