SC affirms disqualification of 6 ‘nuisance’ presidential bets, 4 partylist groups

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has affirmed the Commission on Elections’ disqualification of six “nuisance” presidential candidates as well as several party-list groups.

The court en banc, in its session held last January 21, dismissed the various petitions filed against Comelec by candidates Rizalito David, Elly Pamatong, Ephraim Defino, Antonio Obina, Luisito Falcon, Juanita Trocenio and Buenafe Briggs.

“The court uniformly, in minute resolutions, dismissed the petitions on the ground that the Comelec did not act with grave abuse of discretion,” the high court’s spokesperson, lawyer Theodore Te, said in a briefing.

Te said the court also dismissed the various petitions filed against Comelec by four disqualified party-list groups and regional political parties, namely, Mindanao Alliance for Reforms, Bagong Alyansang Manggagawang Pangtransportasyon para sa Edukasyon at Reporma, People’s Movement for Democratic Governance and Aasenso sa Barangay Inc.; and by Nid Anima, the vice presidential candidate of Aasenso Sabungero partylist.

Two party-list groups, Vieva Farmers Coalition and Scholarship ng Masa, were given time to argue before the court their petitions questioning their disqualification by Comelec.

The election body was given 10 days to reply to the petitions, Te said.  SFM