Comelec allows Ating Koop to assume House seat

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has allowed the party-list group Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba (Ating Koop) to assume a seat in the House of Representatives.

In a resolution promulgated on March 21, the poll body ruled to issue a certificate of proclamation to Ating Koop and proclaim its nominee Roberto Mascariña as the group’s representative in Congress.

The Comelec said it could not be denied that Mascariña has met the requirements for a bonafide nominee of a party as provided under Republic Act 7941 or an act providing for the election of party-list representatives.

“Being a duly qualified nominee, there is no impediment to his proclamation as the proper nominee and representative of Ating Koop to their lone seat in the 16th Congress,” the poll body said.

The resolution was issued after Ating Koop informed the Comelec that the Supreme Court (SC), in a ruling in September 2015, resolved the issue concerning the group’s having two factions of nominees.

The group said the SC ruling voided Comelec resolutions dated Jan. 31, 2013 and July 18, 2012, which upheld the expulsion of Rep. Isidro Lico from the party-list, and the faction headed by Amparo Rimas as the legitimate party-list group, respectively.     

Ating Koop submitted to the poll body a resolution issued in October 2015 by the interim central committee approving and nominating Mascariña as the group’s nominee.