Comelec denies PBBM party-list appeal on registration cancellation

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has denied the appeal of the Pilipinas Babangon Muli (PBBM) party-list on the cancellation of its registration for failure to establish a regional constituency.

This disqualified the group from the midterm polls.

The PBBM argued that “there was never any discussion on the imposition of residency as a condition for membership.” But Comelec said the party-list accepted nominees outside its regional constituency of Calabarzon, contrary to its petition for registration stating that it is a regional political party with regional constituency.

“It is erroneous for Respondent to argue that a resident/voter outside of CALABARZON can be its nominee or member and represent the interest of the Region and Respondent’s core values, programs, and policies,” read the resolution promulgated on May 7.

“Respondent violated the requirement that a regional party must have a regional constituency when it accepted, and even fielded as nominees, members who are not from CALABARZON,” it added.

In April, the Comelec Second Division granted a petition filed by lawyer Jess Christian Ramires to cancel the party-list’s registration over material misrepresentation.