SC affirms with finality disqualification of ARMD party-list

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed with finality the disqualification of party-list group Alliance For Reform Towards Effective Management and Sustainable Development Inc. (ARMD) from joining last May’s elections.

The high court denied ARMD’s motion for reconsideration and upheld an earlier resolution of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) denying the group’s accreditation.

In a ruling signed by SC clerk of court Enriqueta Vidal, the high court said there is no compelling reason to reverse the Comelec ruling.

ARMD applied for accreditation last year, which was denied by the poll body after poll watchdog Kontra Daya questioned the qualifications of its nominees, which included Gwendolyn Durano, Jose Ventura Aspiras, Jannis Ian Teope, Vicente Sanchez and Mario Cerro.

In an earlier decision, the SC dismissed the group’s petition questioning the poll body’s ruling due to technicality.

Meanwhile, the Comelec has proclaimed Raymond Mendoza as the elected representative of party-list group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).

According to a statement released by TUCP, Mendoza took his oath before Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and his name was read out in yesterday’s plenary.

He was designated as member of the Commission on Appointments.

In a resolution promulgated last Friday, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes recognized Democrito Mendoza as TUCP president and chairman of the TUCP party. As such, the poll body recognized his set of nominees.

Records showed the TUCP head submitted the names of Raymond Mendoza, Anthony Sasin and Miguel Niez as the party’s official nominees.

The party garnered 368,883 votes in the recent party-list elections, securing it a seat in the House.

Claiming the TUCP president had resigned, former Sen. Ernesto Herrera, then TUCP secretary-general, installed himself as president and party chairman.

Herrera’s faction contested Mendoza’s nominees and submitted another set of nominees to represent the group.

The Comelec said Mendoza’s resignation was not consummated after he continued his functions as president and chairman of the labor group.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has recognized Mendoza as TUCP president. Herrera appealed the decision but DOLE dismissed the motion for lack of evidence. –-Edu Punay (The Philippine Star with Michelle Zoleta