ATONG PAGLAUM v COMELEC COMELE C April 2, 2013 | Davide, Jr., Jr., J. Original. ANG ANG DAMI) DAMI) Petitioner: (See Original. Respondents: Coi!!ion on "le#$ion! NATURE %& 'e$i$io 'e$i$ion! n! or Certiorari and and 'e$i$io 'e$i$ion! n! or Certiorari and 'roi*i$ion +led * %2 par$-li!$ grop! and organi/a$ion! a!!ailing $e e!ol$ion! i!!ed * $e Coi!!ion on "le#$ion! (COM""C) di!aliing $e ro par$i#ipa$ing in $e 13 Ma 2013 par$-li!$ ele#$ion!, ei$er * denial o $eir pe$i$ion! or regi!$ra$ion nder $e par$-li!$ !!$e, or #an#ella$ion o $eir regi!$ra$ion and a##redi$a$ion a! par$-li!$ organi/a$ion!. DOCTRINE Party-list Representatives BRIE
e COM""C di!ali+ed grop! and organi/a$ion! ro par$i#ipa$ing in $e 13 Ma 2013 par$-li!$ ele#$ion! *a!ed on 4ri!prden#e. 5o6ever, !in#e $e Cor$ adop$! in $i! De#i!ion ne6 parae$er! in $e ali+#a$ion o na$ional, regional, and !e#$oral par$ie! nder $e par$-li!$ !!$e, $ere* a*andoning $e $e rli rling ng! ! in $e $e de#i de#i!i !ion on! ! appl applie ied d * $e $e CO COM" M"" "C C in di! di!a ali li in ing g pe$i$i pe$i$ione oner!, r!, $e #a!e #a!e i! rean reanded ded $o $e COM""C COM""C $o de$er de$erin ine e 6o are ali+ed $o regi!$er nder $e par$-li!$ !!$e, and $o par$i#ipa$e in $e #oi #oing ng 13 Ma Ma 2013 2013 par$ par$-l -li! i!$$ ele# ele#$i $ion on!, !, nde nderr $e $e ne6 ne6 para parae e$e $er! r! pre!#ri*ed in $e De#i!ion. (7l8 o $e #a!e e9plain! $e 'ar$-li!$ !!$e)
ACT! 1 'r! 'r!a an$ n$ $o $e $e prov provi! i!io ion! n! o ep* ep*li li# # A#$ A#$ No No.. :;&1 :;&1 (.A (.A. No No.. :;&1 :;&1)) and and COM""C COM""C e!ol$ion e!ol$ion No!. ;3<< and ;%31, appro9ia$ appro9ia$el el 2=0 grop! grop! and organi/a$ion! regi!$ered and anie!$ed $eir de!ire $o par$i#ipa$e in $e 13 Ma 2013 par$-li!$ ele#$ion!. 2 e COM"" COM""C C di!a di!ali+ li+ed ed grop! grop! and organi/a organi/a$io $ion! n! ro par$i# par$i#ipa ipa$in $ing g in $e 13 Ma 2013 par$-li!$ ele#$ion! 3 '77 ('ar$ ('ar$ido ido ng 7aan 7aan ng 7ida) 7ida) 6a! denied denied par$i par$i#ip #ipa$i a$ion on in $e 13 Ma Ma 2013 par$-li!$ ele#$ion! *e#a!e a '77 '77 doe! doe! no$ no$ repr repre! e!en en$$ an an >ar >argi gina nali li/e /ed d and and nde nderr rrep epre re!e !en$ n$ed ed>> !e#$or? * '77 ailed ailed $o appl or regi! regi!$ra$io $ra$ion n a! a par$-li par$-li!$ !$ grop? grop? # '77 aile ailed d $o e!$a*l e!$a*li! i! i$! i$! $ra#8 $ra#8 re#or re#ord d a! an an organi/a$ organi/a$ion ion $a$ $a$ !ee8! !ee8! $o $o pli$ $e live! o $e >arginali/ed and nderrepre!en$ed. nderrepre!en$ed. & e e CO COM" M"" "C C e9#l e9#ld ded ed ro ro par$ par$i# i#ip ipa$ a$in ing g in $e 13 Ma Ma 2013 2013 par$ par$-li li!$ !$ ele#$ion! $o!e $a$ did no$ !a$i! $e!e $6o #ri$eria@ a all all na$i na$ion onal al,, regio egiona nal, l, and and !e#$ !e#$or oral al gro grop! p! or orga organi ni/a /a$i $ion on! ! !$ !$ repre!en$ repre!en$ $e >arginali/ed and nderrepre!en$ed> nderrepre!en$ed> !e#$or! * all noine noinee! e! !$ !$ *elong *elong $o $e $e >argin >arginali/ ali/ed ed and nderre nderrepre! pre!en$ed en$ed>> !e#$or $e repre!en$. # a! poli$i poli$i#al #al or regio regional nal par$ie par$ie! ! $e are are no$ organi/ organi/ed ed along along !e#$or !e#$oral al line! and do no$ repre!en$ $e >arginali/ed and nderrepre!en$ed.> nderrepre!en$ed.> d pe$i$ione pe$i$ioner! r! noine noinee! e! 6o do no$ *elong *elong $o $e $e !e#$or! !e#$or! $e $e repr repre!en e!en$$ a ave *een di!ali+ed, al$og $e a ave a $ra#8 re#ord o advo#a# or $eir !e#$or!. e noine noinee! e! o non-!e non-!e#$o #$oral ral par$ie par$ie! ! a ave *een *een di!al di!ali+e i+ed d *e#a!e *e#a!e $e do no$ *elong $o an !e#$or.
a par$ a ave *een di!ali+ed *e#a!e one or ore o i$! noinee! ailed $o ali, even i $e par$ a! a$ lea!$ one reaining ali+ed noinee.
Supreme Court: I!!UE! o" t#e CA!E
I!!UE: WON the COMELEC committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction in disqualifying etitioners from articiating in the !" May #$!" arty%list elections& either by denial of their ne' etitions for registration under the arty%list system& or by cancellation of their existing registration and accreditation as arty%list organi(ations ( NO) RATIO 1 COMELEC did not $o%%it &rave a'(se o" dis$retion in ollo6ing prevailing de#i!ion! o $i! Cor$ in di!aliing pe$i$ioner! ro par$i#ipa$ing in $e #oing 13 Ma 2013 par$-li!$ ele#$ion! 2 5o6ever, !in#e $e Cor$ adop$! in $i! De#i!ion ne6 parae$er! in $e ali+#a$ion o na$ional, regional, and !e#$oral par$ie! nder $e par$-li!$ !!$e, $ere* a*andoning $e rling! in $e de#i!ion! applied * $e COM""C in di!aliing pe$i$ioner!, $e #or$ de#ided $o re%and to t#e COMELEC all t#e present petitions "or t#e COMELE C to deter%ine )#o are *(ali+ed to re&ister (nder t#e party-list syste%, and to parti$ipate in t#e $o%in& . May /0. party-list ele$tions, (nder t#e ne) para%eters pres$ri'ed in t#e De$ision
T#e Party-List !yste% 1. e vo$er ele#$! $6o repre!en$a$ive! in $e 5o!e o epre!en$a$ive! a. one or i! or er legi!la$ive di!$ri#$ *. ano$er or i! or er par$-li!$ grop or organi/a$ion o #oi#e 2. Se#$ion % Ar$i#le BI o $e Con!$i$$ion
(1) e 5o!e o epre!en$a$ive! !all *e #opo!ed o not %ore t#an t)o #(ndred and +"ty %e%'ers , nle!! o$er6i!e +9ed * la6, 6o !all *e ele#$ed "ro% le&islative distri$ts appor$ioned aong $e provin#e!, #i$ie!, and $e Me$ropoli$an Manila area in a##ordan#e 6i$ $e n*er o $eir re!pe#$ive ina*i$an$!, and on $e *a!i! o a nior and progre!!ive ra$io, and $o!e 6o, a! provided * la6, !all *e ele#$ed $rog a party-list syste% o" re&istered national, re&ional, and se$toral parties or or&ani1ations2 (2) e par$-li!$ repre!en$a$ive! !all #on!$i$$e t)enty per $ent(% o $e $o$al n*er o repre!en$a$ive! in#lding $o!e nder $e par$ li!$. or t#ree $onse$(tive ter%s a$er $e ra$i+#a$ion o $i! Con!$i$$ion, one-#al" o" t#e seats allo#a$ed $o par$-li!$ repre!en$a$ive! !all *e +lled, a! provided * la6, * !ele#$ion or ele#$ion ro $e la*or, pea!an$, r*an poor, indigeno! #l$ral #oni$ie!, 6oen, o$, and !# o$er !e#$or! a! a *e provided * la6, e9#ep$ $e religio! !e#$or. 3. Se#$ion! : and =, Ar$i#le I-C !e$2 32 No vo$e! #a!$ in avor o a poli$i#al par$, organi/a$ion, or #oali$ion !all *e valid, e9#ep$ or $o!e regi!$ered nder $e par$-li!$ !!$e a! provided in $i! Con!$i$$ion. !e$2 42 'oli$i#al par$ie!, or organi/a$ion! or #oali$ion! regi!$ered nder $e par$-li!$ !!$e, !all no$ *e repre!en$ed in $e vo$er!E regi!$ra$ion *oard!, *oard! o ele#$ion in!pe#$or!, *oard! o #anva!!er!, or o$er !iilar *odie!.
5o6ever, $e !all *e en$i$led $o appoin$ poll 6a$#er! in a##ordan#e 6i$ la6 &. Cri!$ian S. Mon!od@ >t#e party-list syste% is not synony%o(s )it# t#at o" t#e se$toral representation .> %. se$toral representation in $e A!!e*l@ #er$ain !e#$or! 6old ave re!erved !ea$!? $a$ $e 6ill #oo!e aong $e!elve! 6o 6old !i$ in $o!e re!erved !ea$! a. pro'le% 5: )#i$# se$tor6 Nine !e#$or! #i$ed in 'ro#laa$ion No. ; *. $e longer $e enera$ion, $e ore lii$ing $e la6 *e#oe! *e#a!e enera$ion re!l$! in $e e9#l!ion o $o!e no$ in $e enera$ion. #. Pro'le% 5/@ 5pena$ed #i$i/en!@ 6o i! a arerF Do#$or-arerF a6er-arerF d. Pro'le% 5.@ giving !oe people $6o vo$e! and o$er people one vo$e <. 'oli$i#al par$ie!, par$i#larl inori$ poli$i#al par$ie!, are no$ proi*i$ed $o par$i#ipa$e in $e par$ li!$ ele#$ion i $e #an prove $a$ $e are al!o organi/ed along !e#$oral line!. :. e COM""C a loo8 in$o $e $r$ o 6e$er or no$ a poli$i#al par$ i! reall organi/ed along a !pe#i+# !e#$oral line. a. I !# i! veri+ed or #on+red, $e poli$i#al par$ a !*i$ a li!$ o individal! 6o are a#$all e*er! o !# !e#$or!. *. e li!$! are $o *e p*li!ed $o give individal! or organi/a$ion! *elonging $o !# !e#$or $e #an#e $o pre!en$ eviden#e #on$radi#$ing #lai! o e*er!ip in $e !aid !e#$or or $o e!$ion $e #lai! o $e e9i!$en#e o !# !e#$oral organi/a$ion! or par$ie!. #. i! pro#eeding !all *e #ond#$ed * $e COM""C and !all *e !ar in #ara#$er. In o$er 6ord!, COM""C de#i!ion! on $i! a$$er are +nal and nappeala*le =. Coi!!ioner ilredo Billa#or$a@ poli$i#al par$ie! #an par$i#ipa$e in $e par$li!$ !!$e >or a! long a! $e +eld #andida$e! 6o #oe ro $e diHeren$ arginali/ed !e#$or! $a$ 6e !all de!igna$e in $i! Con!$i$$ion.> ;. e #oon denoina$or *e$6een !e#$oral and non-!e#$oral par$ie! i! $a$ $e #anno$ e9pe#$ $o 6in in legi!la$ive di!$ri#$ ele#$ion! *$ $e #an garner, in na$ion6ide ele#$ion!, a$ lea!$ $e !ae n*er o vo$e! $a$ 6inning #andida$e! #an garner in legi!la$ive di!$ri#$ ele#$ion!. e par$-li!$ !!$e 6ill *e $e en$r poin$ $o e*er!ip in $e 5o!e o epre!en$a$ive! or *o$ $e!e non-$radi$ional par$ie! $a$ #old no$ #ope$e in legi!la$ive di!$ri#$ ele#$ion!. 10. e par$-li!$ !!$e i! #opo!ed o t#ree di7erent &ro(ps: a. (1) na$ional par$ie! or organi/a$ion!? *. (2) regional par$ie! or organi/a$ion!? and #. (3) !e#$oral par$ie! or organi/a$ion!. 11. Na$ional and regional par$ie! or organi/a$ion! are di7erent ro !e#$oral par$ie! or organi/a$ion!. Na$ional and regional par$ie! or organi/a$ion! need no$ *e organi/ed along !e#$oral line! and need no$ repre!en$ an par$i#lar !e#$or. 12. $e par$-li!$ !!$e i! no$ e9#l!ivel or !e#$oral par$ie! or 2 rea!on!@ a. one-al o $e !ea$! allo#a$ed $o par$-li!$ repre!en$a$ive! 6old na$rall *e open $o non-!e#$oral par$-li!$ repre!en$a$ive!, #learl nega$ing $e idea $a$ $e par$-li!$ !!$e i! e9#l!ivel or !e#$oral par$ie! repre!en$ing $e >arginali/ed and nderrepre!en$ed.> *. $e re!erva$ion o one-al o $e par$-li!$ !ea$! $o !e#$oral par$ie! applie! onl or $e +r!$ >$ree #on!e#$ive $er! a$er $e ra$i+#a$ion o $i! Con!$i$$ion,> a8ing $e par$-li!$ !!$e ll open a$er $e end o $e +r!$ $ree #ongre!!ional $er!. A$er $i! period, $ere 6ill
*e no !ea$! re!erved or an #la!! or $pe o par$ $a$ ali+e! nder $e $ree grop! #on!$i$$ing $e par$-li!$ !!$e. 13. ep*li# A#$ No. :;&1 or $e 'ar$-i!$ S!$e A#$ a. 'ar$@ ei$er a poli$i#al par$ or a !e#$oral par$ or a #oali$ion o par$ie! *. poli$i#al par$@ organi/ed grop o #i$i/en! advo#a$ing an ideolog or pla$or, prin#iple! and poli#ie! or $e general #ond#$ o governen$ and 6i#, a! $e o!$ iedia$e ean! o !e#ring $eir adop$ion, reglarl noina$e! and !ppor$! #er$ain o i$! leader! and e*er! a! #andida$e! or p*li# o#e. #. !e#$oral par$@ organi/ed grop o #i$i/en! *elonging $o an o $e !e#$or! enera$ed in Se#$ion % ereo 6o!e prin#ipal advo#a# per$ain! $o $e !pe#ial in$ere!$ and #on#ern! o $eir !e#$or 1&. In t#e $ase o" se$toral parties, to 'e a 'ona +de party-list no%inee one %(st eit#er 'elon& to t#e se$tor represented, or #ave a tra$8 re$ord o" advo$a$y "or s($# se$tor I!!UE: WON the criteria for articiating in the arty%list system laid do'n in )ng *agong *ayani and *arangay )ssociation for National )dvancement and +ransarency v, Commission on Elections -. /*)N)+0 should be alied by the COMELEC in the coming !" May #$!" arty%list elections ( NO) RATIO 1. Ang 7agong 7aani@ 6ile even a4or poli$i#al par$ie! are e9pre!!l allo6ed * A :;&1 and $e Con!$i$$ion $o par$i#ipa$e in $e par$-li!$ !!$e, $e !$ #opl 6i$ $e de#lared !$a$$or poli# o ena*ling Kilipino #i$i/en! *elonging $o arginali/ed and nderrepre!en$ed !e#$or! 999 $o *e ele#$ed $o $e 5o!e o epre!en$a$ive!.E 2. 7agong 7aani gideline! or aliing $o!e 6o de!ire or par$i#ipa$e in par$-li!$ !!$e!@ a. e poli$i#al par$, !e#$or, organi/a$ion or #oali$ion !$ repre!en$ $e arginali/ed and nderrepre!en$ed grop! iden$i+ed in Se#$ion % o A :;&1 *. 6ile even a4or poli$i#al par$ie! are e9pre!!l allo6ed * A :;&1 and $e Con!$i$$ion $o par$i#ipa$e in $e par$-li!$ !!$e, $e !$ #opl 6i$ $e de#lared !$a$$or poli# o ena*ling >ilipino #i$i/en! *elonging $o arginali/ed and nderrepre!en$ed !e#$or! 9 9 9 $o *e ele#$ed $o $e 5o!e o epre!en$a$ive!L #. $e religio! !e#$or a no$ *e repre!en$ed in $e par$-li!$ !!$e d. a par$ or an organi/a$ion !$ no$ *e di!ali+ed nder Se#$ion < o A :;&1, 6i# enera$e! $e grond! or di!ali+#a$ion a! ollo6!@ i. I$ i! a religio! !e#$ or denoina$ion, organi/a$ion or a!!o#ia$ion, organi/ed or religio! prpo!e! ii. I$ advo#a$e! violen#e or nla6l ean! $o !ee8 i$! goal iii. I$ i! re#eiving !ppor$ ro an oreign governen$, oreign poli$i#al par$, onda$ion, organi/a$ion, 6e$er dire#$l or $rog an o i$! o#er! or e*er! or indire#$l $rog $ird par$ie! or par$i!an ele#$ion prpo!e! iv. I$ viola$e! or ail! $o #opl 6i$ la6!, rle! or regla$ion! rela$ing $o ele#$ion! v. I$ de#lare! n$r$l !$a$een$! in i$! pe$i$ion vi. I$ a! #ea!ed $o e9i!$ or a$ lea!$ one (1) ear vii. I$ ail! $o par$i#ipa$e in $e la!$ $6o (2) pre#eding ele#$ion! or ail! $o o*$ain a$ lea!$ $6o per #en$ (2) o $e vo$e! #a!$ nder $e par$-li!$ !!$e in $e $6o (2) pre#eding ele#$ion! or $e #on!$i$en# in 6i# i$ a! regi!$ered
3. &.
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e. $e par$ or organi/a$ion !$ no$ *e an ad4n#$ o, or a pro4e#$ organi/ed or an en$i$ nded or a!!i!$ed *, $e governen$ . $e par$ !$ no$ onl #opl 6i$ $e reireen$! o $e la6? i$! noinee! !$ li8e6i!e do !o. !e$tion 9 o" RA 39 read! a! ollo6!@ No per!on !all *e noina$ed a! par$-li!$ repre!en$a$ive nle!! 1. e i! a na$ral-*orn #i$i/en o $e 'ilippine!, 2. a regi!$ered vo$er a re!iden$ o $e 'ilippine! or a period o no$ le!! $an one (1)ear iedia$el pre#eding $e da o $e ele#$ion, 3. a*le $o read and 6ri$e, &. a bona 1de e*er o $e par$ or organi/a$ion 6i# e !ee8! $o repre!en$ or a$ lea!$ nine$ (;0) da! pre#eding $e da o $e ele#$ion, %. i! a$ lea!$ $6en$-+ve (2%) ear! o age on $e da o $e ele#$ion In #a!e o a noinee o $e o$ !e#$or, e !$ 1. a$ lea!$ *e $6en$-+ve (2%) *$ no$ ore $an $ir$ (30) ear! o age on $e da o $e ele#$ion. 2. An o$ !e#$oral repre!en$a$ive 6o a$$ain! $e age o $ir$ (30) dring i! $er !all *e allo6ed $o #on$ine in o#e n$il $e e9pira$ion o i! $er. g. no$ onl $e #andida$e par$ or organi/a$ion !$ repre!en$ arginali/ed and nderrepre!en$ed !e#$or!? !o al!o !$ i$! noinee! . $e noinee !$ li8e6i!e *e a*le $o #on$ri*$e $o $e orla$ion and ena#$en$ o appropria$e legi!la$ion $a$ 6ill *ene+$ $e na$ion a! a 6ole. COMELEC did not $o%%it &rave a'(se o" dis$retion , In ollo6ing prevailing 4ri!prden#e, $e COM""C #old no$ ave #oi$$ed grave a*!e o di!#re$ion. i$ 6old no$ *e in a##ord 6i$ $e 1;=: Con!$i$$ion and .A. No. :;&1 $o appl $e #ri$eria in )ng *agong *ayani and 7ANA in de$erining 6o are ali+ed $o par$i#ipa$e in $e #oing 13 Ma 2013 par$-li!$ ele#$ion!. or $i! prpo!e, )e s(spend o(r r(le t#at a party %ay appeal to t#is Co(rt "ro% de$isions or orders o" t#e COMELEC only i" t#e COMELEC $o%%itted &rave a'(se o" dis$retion e9ep$ion! or in#en$ive! gran$ed $o na$ral or 4ridi#al per!on! are 6i$dra6n e9#ep$ $o!e gran$ed $o lo#al 6a$er di!$ri#$!, #oopera$ive! dl regi!$ered nder A <;3=, non-!$o#8 and non-pro+$ o!pi$al! and ed#a$ional in!$i$$ion!, and o$er6i!e provided * A :1<0. $e pre!en$ pe$i$ion! !old *e reanded $o $e COM""C no$ *e#a!e $e COM""C #oi$$ed grave a*!e o di!#re$ion in di!aliing pe$i$ioner!, *$ *e#a!e pe$i$ioner! a no6 po!!i*l ali $o par$i#ipa$e in $e #oing 13 Ma 2013 par$-li!$ ele#$ion! nder $e ne6 parae$er! pre!#ri*ed * $i! Cor$
RULING: all $e pre!en$ %& pe$i$ion! are GAN"D. e 13 pe$i$ion!, 6i# ave *een gran$ed S$a$! o An$e Order! *$ 6i$o$ anda$or in4n#$ion $o in#lde $e nae! o pe$i$ioner! in $e prin$ing o *allo$!, are re%anded to t#e Co%%ission on Ele$tions only "or deter%ination )#et#er petitioners are *(ali+ed to re&ister (nder t#e party-list syste% (nder t#e para%eters pres$ri'ed in t#is De$ision '(t t#ey s#all not parti$ipate in t#e . M ay /0. part-list ele$tions2 e &1 pe$i$ion!, 6i# ave *een gran$ed anda$or in4n#$ion! $o in#lde $e nae! o pe$i$ioner! in $e prin$ing o *allo$!, are
re%anded to t#e Co%%ission on Ele$tions "or deter%ination )#et#er petitioners are *(ali+ed to re&ister (nder t#e party-list syste% and to parti$ipate in t#e . May /0. party-list ele$tions (nder t#e para%eters pres$ri'ed in t#is De$ision2 e Coi!!ion on "le#$ion! a #ond#$ !ar eviden$iar earing! or $i! prpo!e. i! De#i!ion i! iedia$el e9e#$or.
