Two groups condemn ANAD disqualification

CEBU, Philippines - The Union of Responsible AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Officers and the New Guardians for Freeman and Democracy, Inc. (NGI) have condemned the "disqualification of pro-democracy party-list groups through press release only."

As of noontime yesterday, Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy Partylist is yet to receive an official copy of the purported Commission on Elections en banc resolution disqualifying it, ANAD second nominee Baltaire Balangauan told The FREEMAN.

In a statement, the union said the disqualification of ANAD; The True Marcos Loyalist (for God, Country and People) Association of the Philippines Inc. (Bantay); 1st Kabalikat ng Bayan Ginhawang Sangkatauhan (1st Kabagis); and Kaagapay ng Nagkakaisang Agilang Pilipinong Magsasaka (KAP) is a clear sabotage of the sectoral representation law.

"A black propaganda against Pro-Democracy groups --we strongly condemn this act against the Constitution," said the union in a statement.

They called on all pro-democratic citizens to act accordingly and to do something "to thwart these evils."

The group quoted a portion of the Supreme Court decision which read: "With respect to existing registered party list groups, jurisdiction to disqualify is clearly reposed on the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET)" as clearly provided in article VI, section 17 of the Constitution.

NGI also condemned with the strongest possible words the "highly immoral and illegal act committed by Commission on Elections in its recent decision to disqualify ANAD Party-list, the only partylist in the country actively advocating for the promotion of genuine democracy and exposing the evils of communism."

They alleged that Kontra Daya, the so-called watchdog of the Comelec headed by its Chairman Sixto Brillantes, is another legal front of the Communist Party of the Philippines, who in its recent public pronouncement singled out ANAD Partylist to be disqualified.

The SC ruled that, "The 41 petitions, which have been granted mandatory injunctions to include the names of petitioners in the printing of ballots, are remanded to the Commission on Elections for determination whether petitioners are qualified to register under the party-list system and to participate in the 13 May 2013 party-list elections under the parameters prescribed in this Decision. The Commission on Elections may conduct summary evidentiary hearings for this purpose. This Decision is immediately executory."

ANAD and the other disqualified party-list groups have not reportedly been accorded with the right to be heard. –(FREEMAN)