After the raffling for the order of listing of party-lists on the ballots for the May 2022 polls last December 14, seven party-list groups with denied petitions for registration each secured a TRO against the COMELEC’s subject orders and resolutions.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC), in separate orders, dated December 1 and 2 respectively, dismissed the petitions for registration of several party-list groups vying for a slot on the ballots for the May 2022 polls.
COMELEC issued Resolution No. 10735 and several other resolutions denying the respective motions for reconsideration to its dismissal orders and rejecting with finality the petitions for registration of 107 party-list groups in total.
Some of the rejected party-list groups assailed COMELEC’s subject orders and resolutions before the Supreme Court (SC) by filing different petitions, with all petitioners praying for the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO).
The party-list groups which were granted TROs are Ang Tinig ng Senior Citizens sa Filipinas, Inc., Lingkud Bayanihan Party (LBP), Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development (MIPCPD), Alliance for Resilience, Sustainability and Empowerment (Arise), Igorot Warriors International, Inc. (IWI), Ang Programang Aasenso Taumbayan – Dream, Act, Participate, and Advocate for Sustainable Transformation (APAT-DAPAT), and Ugyon Mangunguma, Mangingisda, kag Mamumugon nga Ilonggo (UMA Ilonggo).
COMELEC was given a non-extendible period of 10 days to file its required comment on the respective petitions.
Meanwhile, SC issued the latest TRO on Thursday, December 23.
A TRO is a precursor to the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction. It constitutes a temporary measure availed of during the pendency of an action before a court and may be issued ex parte, as in the cases of the party-list groups.
Furthermore, the sole object of a TRO is to preserve the status quo until the merits of the petition for the issuance of the preliminary injunction can be heard.
Additionally, as a TRO issued by the SC or any member thereof remains effective until lifted, the COMELEC is enjoined from enforcing its subject orders and resolutions until further orders from the SC.
With the printing of the ballots for the 2022 automated polls set to begin January 12, 2022, effects of the TROs to COMELEC’s calendar for the May 2022 polls are expected.
