18 more party-list groups granted Supreme Court relief

MANILA, Philippines - Eighteen more disqualified party-list groups were granted relief in a new Supreme Court (SC) order placing them within the ambit of a status quo ante order that enjoined the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from purging some party-list groups from next year’s polls.

The Friends of Imelda Romualdez Marcos (FIRM 24k) was among the new groups that will remain in the Comelec list until the SC rules on the merits of their petitions and decides whether they can join the 2013 polls.

Also covered under the new order were: Atong Paglaum, Kaagapay ng Nagkakaisang Aguilang Pilipinong Magsasaka (KAP), Alab ng Mamamahayag (ALAB), Aangat Tayo, Abang Lingkod, Alliance of Bicolnon (ABP-Bicolnon), A Blessed Federation of Farmers and Fishermen International Inc. (A Blessed), 1-AANI and United Movement Against Drugs Foundation Inc. (Unimad).

The list that reporters had obtained from an insider also included Bayani, Action League of Indigenous Masses (ALIM), Butil Farmers (Butil), Alliance of Advocates in Mining Advancement for National Progress (AAMA), Social Movement for Active Reform and Transparency (SMART), Adhikain at Kilusan ng Ordinaryong Tao Para sa Lupa, Hanapbuhay at Kaunlaran (Ako Bahay), 1 Guardians Nationalist of the Philippines Inc. (1Ganap Guardians) and Green Force.

The new list brought to 33 the number of groups so far covered under the status quo ante order.

In a full-court session last Tuesday, the SC tackled the petitions of these groups.

When the SC holds its last session on Tuesday next week, it is expected to come up with the final list of party-list groups that the status quo ante order will cover before going into a month-long holiday recess.

Last Nov. 13, the SC issued a status quo ante order that initially covered eight groups: Ako Bicol (AKB), Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC), 1st Consumer’s Alliance for Rural Energy Inc. (1CARE) and Alliance for Rural Concerns (ARC), Aksyon Magsasaka-Partido Tinig ng Masa (Akma-PTM), Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala Inc. (Kakusa), Alliance for Rural and Agrarian Reconstruction Inc. (Araro) and Association for Righteousness Advocacy on Leadership (ARAL).

In a full-court session last Nov. 20, the SC extended the order on three more groups: Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Anad), Philippine Guardian Brotherhood Inc. (1Bro-PGBI) and Agapay ng Indigenous Peoples Rights Alliance Inc. (A-IPRA).

Last week, four more groups were added to the list: Bantay of fugitive retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, Agri-Agra na Reporma Para sa Magsasaka ng Pilipinas Movement (Agri), Action Brotherhood for

Active Dreamers Inc. (Abroad) and Coconut Producers Federation (Cocofed).

The status quo ante means the Comelec should include the 33 groups in the list of party-list groups set to be finalized next month and printed in the ballots starting Jan. 20, pending resolution of their petitions.

However, it does not mean that petitioners have already won their case and may already join the May 2013 elections, as the SC has yet to rule on the merits of their petitions.

The SC public information office has not yet confirmed the latest list as of press time.

At the Commission on Elections, five more party-list groups have been disqualified.

A total of 178 groups have now been delisted from the 2013 polls.

Chairman Sixto  Brillantes said two of the disqualified party-list groups have existing accreditations that the Comelec has canceled.– With Sheila Crisostomo