DAVAO CITY (April 23)-The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has canceled the registration of the Pilipinas Babangon Muli (PBBM) party-list organization due to alleged misrepresentation, particularly falsely claiming to represent Region 4-A (Calabarzon).
In a 10-page ruling promulgated on Wednesday, the Comelec Second Division ruled that none of the group’s 10 nominees are residents of the Calabarzon region, contradicting its claim of having a regional constituency there.
“Eight of its nominees are residents of the Province of Abra, one of the Province of Cagayan, and one of Quezon City. None of the 10 nominees are residents of Calabarzon,” the decision stated.
Comelec concluded that the nominees are not bona fide members of a regional political party representing Calabarzon, rendering them unqualified.
“This results in the absence of even a single qualified nominee as required by law,” the ruling added.
The Commission also cited the party-list’s “untruthful statements” in its registration petition, stating that its previous assertion of representing Calabarzon had been “conclusively contradicted by its own subsequent admission.”
The decision was issued in response to a petition filed by Atty. Jess Christian Ramirez, who alleged that PBBM misrepresented itself as a regional political party for Calabarzon while exclusively fielding nominees from other regions. Ramirez also accused the group of falsely suggesting an association with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
As the ruling was issued at the division level, PBBM may still appeal by filing a motion for reconsideration before the Comelec en banc.
Edith Z Caduaya studied Bachelor of Science in Development Communication at the University of Southern Mindanao.
The chairperson of Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) Inc.
