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Abang Lingkod Party-List (Abang Lingkod), Petitioner, Commission ON Elections, Respondent
Abang Lingkod Party-List (Abang Lingkod), Petitioner, Commission ON Elections, Respondent
Abang Lingkod Party-List (Abang Lingkod), Petitioner, Commission ON Elections, Respondent
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* EN BANC.
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cies, advocacy of special interests and concerns of the sector, and the
existence of constituencies in defining parties all pertain to
evidence of a duly existing and genuine party-list group. All
these are what the law, Republic Act No. 7941, requires from
parties that aspire to participate in the party-list elections.
Same; Same; Track Record; View that the Supreme Court in
several cases already deemed track record as one of the factors
considered in allowing groups to participate in party-list elections,
although discussed in the previous definition or framework of party-
list groups.·To reiterate and as I have explained in my Concurring
and Dissenting Opinion in Atong Paglaum, the Constitution
acknowledges that there are different kinds of party-list
groups aside from sectoral groups. „To require that all the seats
for party-list representatives continue to be sectoral is clearly and
patently unconstitutional.‰ „Article VI, [S]ection[s] 5 (1) and (2)
already imply a complete Constitutional framework for the party-
list system.‰ Congress should not legislate if it adds requirements
laid down in the Constitution such that even national and regional
parties or organizations may be considered sectoral. The ponencia
in this case supposes that when the majority in Atong Paglaum
declared as part of the fifth (5th) parameter that the „nominees of
the sectoral party either must belong to the sector, or must have a
track record of advocacy for the sector represented,‰ it meant that
the track record requirement will only apply to the sectoral
groups. I take a contrary view, especially since this Court in
several cases already deemed track record as one of the factors
considered in allowing groups to participate in party-list elections,
although discussed in the previous definition or framework of party-
list groups.
Same; Same; Same; View that the record of a party or an
organizationÊs genuineness and bona fide existence is necessary for
all parties and organizations, whether national, regional or sectoral.
·The redefinition of the parameters for party-list registration to
include national and regional parties or organizations did not
remove the requirement of showing that these groups existed prior
to the elections they wish to participate in and that they indeed
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REYES, J.:
This is a petition for certiorari under Rule 64 in relation
to Rule 65 of the Rules of Court filed by Abang Lingkod
Party-List (ABANG LINGKOD) assailing the Resolution1
dated May 10, 2013 issued by the Commission on Elections
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1 Rollo, pp. 30-36. Signed by Chairman Sixto S. Brillantes, Jr. and
Commissioners Lucenito N. Tagle, Elias R. Yusoph, Christian Robert S.
Lim and Ma. Gracia Cielo M. Padaca; Commissioners Al A. Parreno and
Luie Tito F. Guia took no part.
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2 Entitled „In the matter of: (1) the automatic review by the
Commission En Banc of pending petitions for registration of party-list
groups; and (2) setting for hearing the accredited party-list groups or
organizations which are existing and which have filed manifestations of
intent to participate in the 2013 national and local elections,‰
promulgated on August 2, 2012.
3 Entitled „An act providing for the election of party-list
representatives through the party-list system, and appropriating funds
therefor.‰
4 412 Phil. 308; 359 SCRA 698 (2001).
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6 G.R. Nos. 203766, 203818-19, et al., April 2, 2013, 694 SCRA 477.
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7 Supra note 1.
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8 Id., at p. 34.
9 G.R. No. 206952; id., at pp. 6-29.
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The Issues
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10 See Barot v. Commission on Elections, 452 Phil. 438, 446; 404 SCRA 352,
358 (2003); Mendoza v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 188308, October 15,
2009, 603 SCRA 692, 714.
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11 Supra note 6.
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12 Paat v. Court of Appeals, 334 Phil. 146, 155; 266 SCRA 167, 179
(1997).
13 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/track%20record, last
accessed on September 2, 2013.
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Commission on Elections
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14 National Board of Canvassers Resolution No. 0008-13, promulgated
on May 28, 2013.
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15 G.R. No. 172840, June 7, 2007, 523 SCRA 456.
16 Id., at p. 471.
17 G.R. No. 180051, December 24, 2008, 575 SCRA 590.
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18 Id., at pp. 603-604.
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the law holds for the party-list groups; it is still the fact
that the party-list group satisfied the qualifications of the
law that is material to consider. The disqualification of the
nominees must simply be regarded as failure to qualify for
an office or position. It should not, in any way, blemish the
qualifications of the party-list group itself with defect. The
party-list group must be treated as separate and distinct
from its nominees such that qualifications of the latter
must not be considered part and parcel of the qualifications
of the former.
In sum, that ABANG LINGKODÊs registration must be
cancelled due to its misrepresentation is a conclusion
derived from a simplistic reading of the provisions of R.A.
No. 7941 and the import of the CourtÊs disposition in Atong
Paglaum. Not every misrepresentation committed by
national, regional, and sectoral groups or organizations
would merit the denial or cancellation of their registration
under the party-list system. The misrepresentation must
relate to their qualification as a party-list group. In this
regard, the COMELEC gravely abused its discretion when
it insisted on requiring ABANG LINGKOD to prove its
track record notwithstanding that a
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DISSENTING OPINION
LEONEN, J.:
I dissent. This Petition should be denied.
The Commission on Elections did not gravely abuse its
discretion so as to give due course to this Petition.
Reversing the Commission on Elections in this case makes
us party to the mockery of the electoral process done by the
petitioner.
Atong Paglaum v. Commission on Elections1 did not
remove the legal requirement that party-list groups must
have proof of their existence and genuineness as provided
by law. It did not remove the Commission on ElectionsÊ
discretion to determine whether the party-list group that
intends to be sectoral · as opposed to national or regional
· is genuine, has bona fide existence, and truly
represents its sector.
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1 G.R. No. 203766, April 2, 2013, 694 SCRA 477.
2 This Petition is under Rule 64 in relation to Rule 65 of the Revised
Rules of Civil Procedure.
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3 This was docketed as SPP No. 08-16 (PL). See Rollo, p. 9.
4 Rollo, p. 9.
5 Id.
6 Temporary Rollo, p. 2. The case was docketed as SP No. 12-238
(PLM).
7 Temporary Rollo, p. 2.
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8 Id., at pp. 39-41.
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9 Atong Paglaum v. Commission on Elections, supra.
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10 Rollo, p. 34.
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11 Atong Paglaum v. Commission on Elections, supra note 1.
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12 Mitra v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 191938, October 19,
2010, 633 SCRA 580, 590 citing Aratuc v. Commission on Elections, G.R.
Nos. L-49705-09 and L-49717-21, February 8, 1979, 88
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SCRA 251 and Dario v. Mison, G.R. No. 81954, August 8, 1989, 176
SCRA 84.
13 G.R. No. 170522, November 20, 2006, 507 SCRA 426.
14 Id., at p. 437.
15 G.R. No. 186359, March 5, 2010, 614 SCRA 391.
16 Id., at p. 400 citing Suliguin v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No.
166046, March 23, 2006, 485 SCRA 219, 233; Guerrero v. Commission on
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Elections, 391 Phil. 344, 352; 336 SCRA 458, 466 (2000); Sen. Defensor
Santiago v. Sen. Guingona, Jr., 359 Phil. 276,
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304; 298 SCRA 756, 776 (1998); Cabrera v. Commission on Elections, G.R.
No. 182084, October 6, 2008, 567 SCRA 686, 691.
17 Republic Act No. 7941 (1995), Sec. 3 (b).
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organizations.
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18 Republic Act No. 7941 (1995), Sec. 3 (c) par. 1.
19 Republic Act No. 7941 (1995), Sec. 3 (c) par. 2.
20 Republic Act No. 7941 (1995), Sec. 3 (d).
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21 Atong Paglaum v. Commission on Elections, supra note 1, at pp. 571-572.
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22 Id., at pp. 557-560.
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23 Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, Concurring and Dissenting Opinion,
Atong Paglaum v. COMELEC, supra note 1, at p. 774.
24 Id., at p. 784.
25 Id., at p. 785.
26 Id.
27 See Ang Bagong Bayani-OFW Labor Party v. Commission on
Elections, G.R. No. 147589, June 26, 2001, 359 SCRA 698; Aklat-
Asosasyon Para sa Kaunlaran ng Lipunan at Adhikain Para sa Tao, Inc.
v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 162203, April 14, 2004, 427 SCRA
712; Dayao v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 193643, January 29,
2013, 689 SCRA 412.
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28 Rollo, p. 40.
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Untruthful statements
The Commission on Elections did not commit grave
abuse of discretion in cancelling ABANG LINGKODÊs
registration under the party-list system when the party-list
group made an „untruthful statement‰ in its Petition,
thereby violating Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7941.
Section 6 provides:
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29 Id., at pp. 8-9.
30 See fourth parameter set in Atong Paglaum.
31 Temporary Rollo, p. 12.
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RULE 1
FILING OF PETITIONS FOR REGISTRATION
Section 7. Documents to support petition for
registration.·The following documents shall support petitions
for registration:
a. Constitution and by-laws as an organization seeking
registration under the party-list system of representation;
b. Platform or program of government;
xxxx
f. Track record summary showing that it represents
and seeks to uplift the marginalized and
underrepresented sector/s it seeks to represent;
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32 Entitled „Rules and Regulations Governing the: 1) Filing of
Petitions for Registration; 2) Filing of Manifestation of Intent to
Participate; 3) Submission of Names of Nominees; and 4) Filing of
Disqualification Cases against Nominees of Party-list Groups or
Organizations participating under the Party-list system of
representation in Connection with the May 13, 2013 National and Local
Elections, and Subsequent Elections Thereafter,‰ promulgated on
February 1, 2012.
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to represent the sector for which the petition has been filed
and thus prevent a faithful determination of the true will of
the electorate.
Section 3. Removal and/or cancellation of registration;
Grounds.·The Commission may motu proprio or upon a
verified complaint of any interested party, remove or
cancel, after due notice and hearing, the registration of
any party-list group organization or coalition on any of the
grounds mentioned in Section 2 of this Rule. Any party
whose registration has been removed or cancelled shall not be
allowed to participate in the party-list system, or from being
proclaimed if the evidence is strong. (Emphasis provided)
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33 Abang Lingkod v. COMELEC, Main Opinion Revised as of
September 17, 2013, G.R. No. 206952, p. 12.
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34 „Factual findings of the Commission on Elections are binding on
this Court.‰ See Japzon v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 180088,
January 19, 2009, 576 SCRA 331; Dagloc v. COMELEC, 463 Phil. 263,
288; 417 SCRA 574, 594 (2003); Pasandalan v. Commission on Elections,
G.R. No. 150312, July 18, 2002, 384 SCRA 695, 703; Mastura v.
COMELEC, 349 Phil. 423, 429; 285 SCRA 493, 499 (1998).
35 G.R. No. 172840, June 7, 2007, 523 SCRA 456.
36 Id., at p. 458.
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37 G.R. No. 177179, June 5, 2009, 588 SCRA 738.
38 Id., at p. 743.
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39 Id., at p. 745.
40 Torres v. Abundo, G.R. No. 174263, January 24, 2007, 512 SCRA
556, 564 citing Olanolan v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 165491,
March 31, 2005, 454 SCRA 807, 814.
41 Benito v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 134913, January 19,
2001, 349 SCRA 705, 713-714 citing Cuison v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No.
128540, April 15, 1998, 289 SCRA 159, 171; Tañada v. Angara, G.R. No.
118295, May 2, 1997, 272 SCRA 18, 79; Alafriz v. Nable, 72 Phil. 278, 280
(1941); Abad Santos v. Prov. of Tarlac, 67 Phil. 480 (1939).
188
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AFFIRMED.
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