Ang Bagong Bayani-OFW Labor Party vs. COMELEC G.R. No. 147589, June 26, 2001

Facts: Petitioner challenged a resolution issued by the COMELEC. Petitioner seeks the disqualification of certain major political parties in the 2001 party-list elections arguing that the party-list system was intended to benefit the marginalized and underrepresented and not the mainstream political parties, the non-marginalized or overrepresented.

Issues:

(1) Whether or not political parties may participate in the party-list elections

(2) Whether or not the party-list system is exclusive to marginalized and underrepresented sectors and organizations

Held: Under the Constitution and RA 7941, major political parties cannot be disqualified from the party-list elections merely on the ground that they are political parties. But while even major political parties are expressly allowed by RA 7941 and the Constitution to participate in the party-list system, they must comply with the declared statutory policy of enabling Filipino citizens belonging to marginalized and underrepresented sectors to be elected to the House of Representatives. In other words, while they are not disqualified merely on the ground that they are political parties, they must show, however, that they represent the interests of the marginalized and underrepresented.