Mikey party-list group, 9 others get SC relief

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has granted relief to 10 more disqualified party-list groups, including the Ang Galing Pinoy (AGP) of Rep. Mikey Arroyo.

The high court during its full-court session last Tuesday granted the petition for the issuance of status quo ante order of AGP against the Commission on Elections (Comelec) order disqualifying it from participating in next year’s elections.

The Comelec said AGP failed to meet the requirement to represent a marginalized sector in Congress.

The SC saw the need to enjoin the poll body from proceeding with AGP’s disqualification so as not to deprive it of a fair chance to campaign should the high court eventually grant its petition to overturn its qualification.

Also covered by the latest order were the Philippine Association for Country-Urban Poor Youth Advancement Welfare (PACYAW), 1-United Transport Coalition (1-UTAK), Kalikasan, Association of Local Athletics Entrepreneurs and Hobbyists Inc. (ALA-EH), Coalition of Association of Senior Citizens in the Philippines Inc. (Sr. Citizen), 1-Alliance Advocating Autonomy (1AAAP), Abyan Ilonggo Party (AI), Manila Teachers Savings and Loans Association Inc. (Manila Teachers) and Partido ng Bayan ang Bida (PBB).

The order, set for release today, brings to 43 the number of disqualified party-list groups in the Comelec list.

At least 33 disqualified party-list groups were initially covered by the status quo ante order the SC issued last Nov. 13, including 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).