New SC guidelines give DQ’d groups a reprieve

Under the new guidelines issued by the Supreme Court, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said most of the 54 previously disqualified party-list groups may be allowed to run again in the May 13 polls.

“With the new guidelines, almost all party-list groups would qualify,” said Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr.

He said it is highly likely that the previously registered party-list groups which the poll body had disqualified but managed to secure status quo ante orders (SQAOs) from the Supreme Court would be included among the official candidates in the party-list race.

Forty-one previously registered party-list groups and 13 new applicants managed to secure SQAOs from the high court against the Comelec decisions to have them delisted.

This has resulted in the inclusion of the 41 groups with canceled registrations in the ballots, along with the 82 groups already accredited by the Comelec.

‘Gray area’

The other 13 groups, on the other hand, were new applicants previously granted a SQAO by the court but not a mandatory injunction.

Although he admitted that he was surprised by the Supreme Court decision, Brillantes said the poll body is prepared to hold daily hearings if necessary in order to abide by the order and in time for the May 13 polls.

“There are groups that we can approve off-hand. We only have to discuss those listed under the ‘gray area,’” he said.

Brillantes also appealed to lawmakers to consider amending the party-list system act, particularly on the groups qualified to run.

He said such a move would avoid constantly changing rules on party-list accreditation every election year either by the Comelec or the Supreme Court.