SC stops Comelec junking of 2 more party list groups

The Supreme Court building is viewed from its closed gateway. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Supreme Court (SC) has prevented the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from denying the accreditation of two party list group next year’s polls.

In two separate orders, the Supreme Court granted the petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) sought by Ang Programang Aasenso Taumbayan-Dream, Act, Participate and Advocate for Sustainable Transformation; and Ugyon Mangunguma, Mangingisda Kag Mamumugon Nga Ilonggo.

The party list groups, in their petition, asked the high court to review the decision of the Comelec dismissing their petition for registration as a party list group, and in denying the latter’s motion for reconsideration.”

“Whereas, considering the allegations contained, the issues raised and the arguments adduced in the petition, it is necessary and proper to (require) the respondent to (comment) on the petition within a nonextendible period of 10 days from notice thereof … (and) grant the prayer for the issuance of a TRO to enjoin the Comelec from enforcing its assailed order and resolution,” the Supreme Court ruled.

166 accredited; 107 rejected

The high court previously issued TROs on the Comelec’s decision to disqualify five party list groups, namely Ang Tinig ng Seniors; Lingkud Bayanihan Party; Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development; Igorot Warriors International Inc.; and Alliance for Resilience, Sustainability and Empowerment.

These party list groups are among the 107 groups whose applications for registration were rejected by the poll body.

The poll body has accredited 166 groups, 152 of which are assured of participation while the applications of 14 groups are being reevaluated after an initial rejection.

Comelec records show that in the 2019 midterm elections, about 15.9 million voters either did not pick a party list or missed the roll entirely.