COMELEC approves Adelante Zamboanga Party
The 2nd Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved the petition for registration of “Adelante Zamboanga Party (AZAP)” as a local political party in Zamboanga City.
AZAP president Jomar Lobregat announced this yesterday afternoon upon receipt of the Comelec decision penned on Nov. 17, 2009 by 2nd Division Presiding Commissioner Nicodemo T. Ferrer, Commissioners Lucenito N. Tagle and Elias R. Yusoph.
In a resolution docketed as SPP No. 09-133 (PP), the Comelec declared that the petition and the documentary evidence presented by the petitioner (AZAP) has met the standards set forth in the case. “More specifically, the petitioner has shown that it and its members are governed by a constitution and by-laws and that its members are one in pursuing a shared goal and platform of government under a common principle of governance.”
The Comelec resolution further stated that the petitioner (AZAP) is fully capable of implementing its goals and platform of government as its membership permeates the City of Zamboanga, where it seeks to be registered as a political party as certified by lawyer Helen G. Aguila Flores, regional election director for Region 9.
According to the Comelec, the opposition filed by Councilor Kim Elago, a lawyer, is not meritorious considering that the word “adelante” indeed is a common Chabacano term which cannot be used or appropriated solely by any group or persons such that others may not use it. “Besides, the supposed advantage that the petitioner would have during the election because the phrase Adelante Zamboanga has been previously proliferating in the city at the expense of the city government is unfounded,” the poll body said.
Such perceived advantage, the Comelec declared, will only surface if what will be voted upon is the party and not the person as in the case of party list groups. “However, in the present case, the persons are the candidates and not the political party itself.”
“AZAP has complied with the jurisdictional requirements provided under the Constitution and the Comelec Rules of Procedure. And there being no showing that petitioner is a religious sect and it seeks to achieve goal through violence, the accreditation and registration of Adelante Zamboanga Party as a local political party is granted as a matter of course,” the Comelec 2nd Division ordered.
As this developed, Jomar Lobregat yesterday expressed elation over the Comelec’s approval of his petition for registration of AZAP as a local political party.
“I am happy that we got it. This will now allow us (in AZAP) to make our solid plans for the local elections,” the younger Lobregat said, stressing that the Comelec’s decision is a vindication from the criticisms hurled by the local opposition.
The younger Lobregat was specifically referring to Councilor Elago who had strongly opposed to AZAP’s petition with the Comelec. “I was surprised why Elago opposed my petition when he as a lawyer knows that it is a right of every citizen like me to form a political party,” Lobregat said. “Why would he bother to do that? Does he have nothing more important to do as a councilor?” he asked in a statement.
Lobregat explained that forming a local political party like the AZAP is different from forming a partylist organization because the latter involves representation of a particular sector in congress. “AZAP is a political party not a partylist group,” he said, adding that Elago’s move to block AZAP petition was a violation of his (Lobregat) right. “It was not a well thought move. He was trying to harass me,” the AZAP president deplored.
For his part, City Administrator Antonio Orendain Jr. said that with Comelec’s approval of AZAP “it seems all those comments against it were purely innuendos and imaginary.” (Vic Larato)