Migrante Party-list today lauded Supreme Court Justice Reynato Puno’s statement that the high court will not be stopped from doing its constitutional duty to review the disqualification cases filed by individuals and party-list groups barred by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from participating in the 2010 elections.

Migrante, among the 26 party-list de-listed by Comelec in its En Banc Resolution last October, has a petition currently filed with the Supreme Court, questioning the Comelec’s lack of due process and misinterpretation of the Party-list System Act.

“Malacanang is in effect urging the court to violate the law. It claims that it doesn’t want to delay the printing of ballots, but even Puno has said that it is willing to hold special sessions in order to expedite its ruling. We believe that behind Malacanang’s plea is a concerted effort by the Arroyo administration to prevent its critics from participating in the elections,” said Connie Bragas-Regalado, Migrante Party-list chairperson.

The group, representing millions of OFWs worldwide, hopes that the SC will rule in their favor. It lauded the SC’s Temporary Restraining Order on the disqualification of the party-list group Ang Ladlad. “The SC’s order Ang Ladlad shows that the Comelec is prone to err, that some of its decisions have no legal bases but are tainted with bias against certain groups and sectors, such as in the case of Migrante,” Regalado added.

Migrante was disqualified for allegedly failing to obtain 2% of the total party-list votes in the last two elections. But Migrante did not run in the 2007 elections and does not fall within the provision of the Party-list System Act for disqualification.

“The SC has the duty to uphold the spirit of the Party-list System Act, which is to ensure the widest representation of marginalized sectors. OFWs all over the world, which have long been denied a voice, will rejoice in the event that the court allows Migrante Party-list to run,” Regalado said. ###