Sereno may issue order on party-list disqualification

MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno may unilaterally issue a status quo ante order suspending the disqualification of seven party-list groups since they had filed their petitions after the SC went on a month-long recess last Dec. 12.

However, justices will have to affirm Sereno’s action in their next full-court session.

Unless Sereno calls for a special full-court session, the SC can no longer collegially act on the petitions before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) finalizes the list of party-list groups.

The poll body has set for Jan. 4 the raffle of party-list groups for the order of their names in the ballots for the May 2013 polls.

The new petitioners are: Confederation of Savings and Loan Associations (Consla), 1st Kabalikat ng Bayan Ginhawang Sangkatauhan (Kabagis), Pilipinas Para sa Pinoy (PPP), 1 Serve the People, Educational Development Services for Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (EDSA), Angat Ahon Magsasaka (AAM) and Isang Kasambahay Po Inc. (1- Kasambahay Po).

The Comelec has revoked the registration of Consla and Kabagis, while the registration of five others have been denied.

So far, 52 disqualified party-list groups were placed within the purview of the status quo ante order issued last Nov. 13.

The status quo ante order initially covered eight party-list 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).

Last Nov. 20, the SC placed three more party-list groups in the status quo ante order: Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Anad), Philippine Guardian Brotherhood Inc. (1Bro-PGBI) and Agapay ng Indigenous Peoples Rights Alliance Inc. (A-IPRA).

Last Nov. 27, four more groups were added: 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).