PBBM Party-list to challenge disqualification before SC

The Pilipinas Babangon Muli (PBBM) Party-list on Friday said it will challenge its disqualification from Eleksyon 2025 before the Supreme Court (SC).

This comes after the Commission on Elections en banc affirmed a ruling disqualifying and cancelling the party-list’s registration over alleged misrepresentation.

“The COMELEC En Banc committed grave abuse of discretion when it disregarded caselaw which adheres to the liberal and inclusive view of party-list representation,” the party-list said in a statement.

“Having officers and nominees from outside CALABARZON did not alter the regional character of PBBM. We remain to be a regional party. We did not misrepresent,” it added.

In April, the Comelec Second Division cancelled the PBBM party-list for allegedly misrepresenting itself as a regional political party representing Calabarzon while exclusively fielding nominees outside the region.

The poll body previously recognized the party-list’s constituency in Calabarzon as it claimed presence in 140 out of 142 cities and municipalities in the region and “declared intent to represent the interests of the rights of the citizens in Calabarzon”.

The party-list in its oral submissions for the petition said that residency in Region IV-A was not a requirement for membership in its party-list under its Constitution and by-laws.

However, the Comelec Second Division said this “categorical admission directly negates the very foundation upon which its registration as a regional political party was approved.”

“We steadfastly reject this ruling as unjust, for it disregards the deep connections we have forged through years of hands-on programs and meaningful partnerships,” the PBBM party-list said.—Joahna Lei Casilao/AOL, GMA Integrated News

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