The Supreme Court has ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to proclaim Abang Lingkod group as one of the winners in the party-list race in last May’s elections. PHOTO FROM THE PARTY LIST’S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT
MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will appeal the Supreme Court ruling ordering it to proclaim Abang Lingkod as a winner in the party-list race in last May’s elections.
In an interview, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the poll agency will soon file a motion for reconsideration of the ruling.
“There will be no proclamation yet because the SC ruling is not final,” he said.
Abang Lingkod is a sectoral organization representing farmers and fisherfolk. It obtained 260,215 votes in the May 13 elections, qualifying it for a seat in the House of Representatives.
In a resolution issued on May 10, 2013, or three days before the elections, the Comelec canceled the registration of Abang Lingkod as a party-list group for lack of a track record of aiding farmers and fishermen.
Voting 10-4, the Supreme Court reversed and set aside the Comelec resolution.
In an 18-page ruling penned by Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes Jr., the high court said the Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion when it canceled Abang Lingkod’s registration for failing to present a track record.
It said that requiring proof of a track record was not part of the new guidelines for groups aspiring for a party-list seat in Congress.
The court said three of the five nominees to Congress of Abang Lingkod were farmers and need not present proof of their active participation in the group.