Sinag files disqualification case vs namesake group

DAGUPAN CITY—The farm industry group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) had petitioned the Commission on Elections to cancel the registration of a party-list group, which was also named “Sinag.”

In a Nov. 21 petition, Sinag president Rosendo So said Sinag Tungo sa Kaunlaran party-list group would “mislead voters” given that his group of 31 associations of farmers and other agriculture industry players supported the Abono and Agap party-list groups.

“The primordial objective of election laws is to give effect to, rather than frustrate, the will of the voter,” the petition said.

Trademark

The farm industry organization, registered as Sinag Inc., has the exclusive right to use the name “Sinag,” which is registered, and for which it owns the trademark, the petition said.

“The petitioner (Sinag Inc.) and the respondent (party-list) are separate and distinct organizations, and have no relation to each other whatsoever,” it said.

The petition also said the Sinag party-list group “will inevitably be riding on [Sinag Inc.’s] coattails as a well-known and established organization.”

Sinag Inc. has engaged in debates regarding rice, meat and vegetable importation in the past “to eliminate unfair and restrictive trade practices [and] to ensure a level playing field between and among domestic food producers and importers.” —YOLANDA SOTELO