Partido ng Manggagawa vs.

COMELEC , GR
164702, March 15, 2006
The petition involves the formula for computing the
additional seats due, if any, for winners in party-list
elections. Several party-list participants sent
queries to the respondent COMEEC regarding the
formula to !e adopted in computing the additional
seats for the party-list winners in the May "#, $##%
elections. &n response, the respondent Commission
issued 'esolution (o. )*+,, adopting the simplified
formula of -one additional seat per additional two
percent of the total party-list votes.
&SS.E/ 0hat is a decision 1ro 2ac 3ice4
1ro hac vice is a atin term meaning -for this one
particular occasion.5 6 ruling e7pressly qualified as
pro hac vice cannot !e relied upon as a precedent
to govern other cases. &n this case, it was ruled that
it was erroneous for respondent Commission to
apply 'esolution (o. )*+, and rule that the formula
in 3eterans has !een a!andoned.
&n a su!sequent case, 8anat vs. COMEEC, the
court ruled that the formula in 3eterans is not
applica!le anymore.
BANAT v. COMELEC
586 SCRA 210
NOTE: This case is consolidated ith BAYAN
Muna vs COMELEC !G.R. No. 179295".
#n $%l& and A%'%st 200() the COMELEC) sittin' as the
National Boa*d o+ Canvasse*s) ,ade a -a*tial
-*ocla,ation o+ the inne*s in the -a*t&.list elections
hich as held in Ma& 200(.
#n -*oclai,in' the inne*s and a--o*tionin' thei* seats)
the COMELEC conside*ed the +olloin' *%les/
1. #n the loe* ho%se) 800 shall co,-*ise the seats +o*
le'islative dist*icts) hile the *e,ainin' 200 shall co,e
+*o, -a*t&.list *e-*esentatives !Sec. 5) A*ticle 1#) 128(
Constit%tion"3
2. 4%*s%ant to Sec. 115 o+ R.A. (261 o* the 4a*t&.List
S&ste, Act) a -a*t&.list hich 'a*ne*s at least 20 o+ the
total votes cast in the -a*t&.list elections shall 5e entitled
to one seat3
7. #+ a -a*t&.list 'a*ne*s at least 60) then it is entitled to
2 seats3 i+ it 'a*ne*s at least 60) then it is entitled to 7
seats 8 this is -%*s%ant to the 2-4-6 rule o* the
Panganiban Formula +*o, the case o+ Veterans
Federation Party vs COMELEC.
6. #n no a& shall a -a*t& 5e 'iven ,o*e than th*ee seats
even i+ i+ 'a*ne*s ,o*e than 60 o+ the votes cast +o* the
-a*t&.list election !7 seat ca- *%le) sa,e case".
The Ba*an'a& Association +o* National Advance,ent
and T*ans-a*enc& !BANAT") a -a*t&.list candidate)
9%estioned the -*ocla,ation as ell as the +o*,%la 5ein'
%sed. BANAT ave**ed that the 20 th*eshold is invalid3
Sec. 11 o+ RA (261 is void 5eca%se its -*ovision that a
-a*t&.list) to 9%ali+& +o* a con'*essional seat) ,%st 'a*ne*
at least 20 o+ the votes cast in the -a*t&.list election) is
not s%--o*ted 5& the Constit%tion. :%*the*) the 20 *%le
c*eates a ,athe,atical i,-ossi5ilit& to ,eet the 200
-a*t&.list seat -*esc*i5ed 5& the Constit%tion.
BANAT also 9%estions i+ the 200 *%le is a ,e*e ceilin'
o* is it ,andato*&. #+ it is ,andato*&) then ith the 20
9%ali+&in' vote) the*e o%ld 5e instances hen it o%ld
5e i,-ossi5le to +ill the -*esc*i5ed 200 sha*e o+ -a*t&.
lists in the loe* ho%se. BANAT also -*o-oses a ne
co,-%tation !hich shall 5e disc%ssed in the ;<EL=>
-o*tion o+ this di'est".
On the othe* hand) BA?AN M@NA) anothe* -a*t&.list
candidate) 9%estions the validit& o+ the 7 seat *%le
!Section 11a o+ RA (261". #t also *aised the iss%e o+
hethe* o* not ,aAo* -olitical -a*ties a*e alloed to
-a*tici-ate in the -a*t&.list elections o* is the said
elections li,ited to secto*al -a*ties.
ISSUES:
#. <o is the 80.20 *%le o5se*ved in a--o*tionin' the
seats in the loe* ho%seB
##. Chethe* o* not the 200 allocation +o* -a*t&.list
*e-*esentatives ,andato*& o* a ,e*e ceilin'.
###. Chethe* o* not the 20 th*eshold to 9%ali+& +o* a seat
valid.
#1. <o a*e -a*t&.list seats allocatedB
1. Chethe* o* not ,aAo* -olitical -a*ties a*e alloed to
-a*tici-ate in the -a*t&.list elections.
1#. Chethe* o* not the 7 seat ca- *%le !7 Seat Li,it
R%le" is valid.
HELD:
I. The 80.20 *%le is o5se*ved in the +olloin' ,anne*/
+o* eve*& 5 seats allotted +o* le'islative dist*icts) the*e
shall 5e one seat allotted +o* a -a*t&.list *e-*esentative.
O*i'inall&) the 128( Constit%tion -*ovides that the*e
shall 5e not more than 250 ,e,5e*s o+ the loe* ho%se.
@sin' the 80.20 *%le) 200 o+ that ill 5e +*o, le'islative
dist*icts) and 50 o%ld 5e +*o, -a*t&.list *e-*esentatives.
<oeve*) the Constit%tion also alloed Con'*ess to +iD
the n%,5e* o+ the ,e,5e*shi- o+ the loe* ho%se as in
+act) it can c*eate additional le'islative dist*icts as it ,a&
dee, a--*o-*iate. As can 5e seen in the Ma& 200(
elections) the*e e*e 220 dist*ict *e-*esentatives) hence
a--l&in' the 80.20 *%le o* the 5/1 *atio) the*e sho%ld 5e
55 seats allotted +o* -a*t&.list *e-*esentatives.
<o did the S%-*e,e Co%*t a**ive at 55B This is the
+o*,%la/
!C%**ent N%,5e* o+ Le'islative
=ist*ictRe-*esentatives E 0.80" D !0.20" F N%,5e* o+
Seats Availa5le to 4a*t&.List Re-*esentatives
<ence)
!220 E 0.80" D !0.20" F 55
II. The 200 allocation +o* -a*t&.list *e-*esentatives is
,e*el& a ceilin' 8 ,eanin') the n%,5e* o+ -a*t&.list
*e-*esentatives shall not eDceed 200 o+ the total n%,5e*
o+ the ,e,5e*s o+ the loe* ho%se. <oeve*) it is not
,andato*& that the 200 shall 5e +illed.
III. No. Section 115 o+ RA (261 is %nconstit%tional.
The*e is no constit%tional 5asis to allo that onl& -a*t&.
lists hich 'a*ne*ed 20 o+ the votes cast a*e qua!"!#$
+o* a seat and those hich 'a*ne*ed less than 20 a*e
dis9%ali+ied. :%*the*) the 20 th*eshold c*eates a
,athe,atical i,-ossi5ilit& to attain the ideal 80.20
a--o*tion,ent. The S%-*e,e Co%*t eD-lained/
To ill%st*ate/ The*e a*e 55 availa5le -a*t&.list seats.
S%--ose the*e a*e 50 ,illion votes cast +o* the 100
-a*tici-ants in the -a*t& list elections. A -a*t& that has
to -e*cent o+ the votes cast) o* one ,illion votes) 'ets a
'%a*anteed seat. Let %s +%*the* ass%,e that the +i*st 50
-a*ties all 'et one ,illion votes. Onl& 50 -a*ties 'et a
seat des-ite the availa5ilit& o+ 55 seats. Beca%se o+ the
o-e*ation o+ the to -e*cent th*eshold) this sit%ation ill
*e-eat itsel+ even i+ e inc*ease the availa5le -a*t&.list
seats to 60 seats and even i+ e inc*ease the votes cast to
100 ,illion. Th%s) even i+ the ,aDi,%, n%,5e* o+
-a*ties 'et to -e*cent o+ the votes +o* eve*& -a*t&) it is
ala&s i,-ossi5le +o* the n%,5e* o+ occ%-ied -a*t&.list
seats to eDceed 50 seats as lon' as the to -e*cent
th*eshold is -*esent.
#t is the*e+o*e clea* that the to -e*cent th*eshold
-*esents an %na**anted o5stacle to the +%ll
i,-le,entation o+ Section 5!2") A*ticle 1# o+ the
Constit%tion and -*events the attain,ent o+ ;the 5*oadest
-ossi5le *e-*esentation o+ -a*t&) secto*al o* '*o%-
inte*ests in the <o%se o+ Re-*esentatives.>
I%. #nstead) the 20 *%le sho%ld ,ean that i+ a -a*t&.list
'a*ne*s 20 o+ the votes cast) then it is &ua'an(##$ a
seat) and not ;9%ali+ied>. This allos those -a*t&.lists
'a*ne*in' less than 20 to also 'et a seat.
B%t hoB The S%-*e,e Co%*t laid don the +olloin'
*%les/
1. The -a*ties) o*'aniGations) and coalitions shall 5e
*anHed +*o, the hi'hest to the loest 5ased on the
n%,5e* o+ votes the& 'a*ne*ed d%*in' the elections.
2. The -a*ties) o*'aniGations) and coalitions *eceivin' at
least to -e*cent !20" o+ the total votes cast +o* the
-a*t&.list s&ste, shall 5e entitled to one '%a*anteed seat
each.
7. Those 'a*ne*in' s%++icient n%,5e* o+ votes) acco*din'
to the *anHin' in -a*a'*a-h 1) shall 5e entitled to
additional seats in -*o-o*tion to thei* total n%,5e* o+
votes %ntil all the additional seats a*e allocated.
6. Each -a*t&) o*'aniGation) o* coalition shall 5e entitled
to not ,o*e than th*ee !7" seats.
#n co,-%tin' the additional seats) the '%a*anteed seats
shall no lon'e* 5e incl%ded 5eca%se the& have al*ead&
5een allocated) at one seat each) to eve*& to.-e*cente*.
Th%s) the *e,ainin' availa5le seats +o* allocation as
;additional seats> a*e the ,aDi,%, seats *ese*ved %nde*
the 4a*t& List S&ste, less the '%a*anteed seats.
:*actional seats a*e dis*e'a*ded in the a5sence o+ a
-*ovision in R.A. No. (261 alloin' +o* a *o%ndin' o++
o+ +*actional seats.
#n sho*t) the*e shall 5e to *o%nds in dete*,inin' the
allocation o+ the seats. #n the +i*st *o%nd) all -a*t&.lists
hich 'a*ne*ed at least 20 o+ the votes cast !called the
two-er!enters" a*e 'iven thei* one seat each. The total
n%,5e* o+ seats 'iven to these to.-e*cente*s a*e then
ded%cted +*o, the total availa5le seats +o* -a*t&.lists. #n
this case) 1( -a*t&.lists e*e a5le to 'a*ne* 20 each.
The*e a*e a total 55 seats availa5le +o* -a*t&.lists hence)
55 ,in%s 1( F 78 *e,ainin' seats. !Please re"er to the
"ull te#t o" the !ase "or the tabulation".
The n%,5e* o+ *e,ainin' seats) in this case 78) shall 5e
%sed in the second *o%nd) -a*tic%la*l&) in dete*,inin')
+i*st) the additional seats +o* the to.-e*cente*s) and
second) in dete*,inin' seats +o* the -a*t&.lists that did
not 'a*ne* at least 20 o+ the votes cast) and in the
-*ocess +illin' %- the 200 allocation +o* -a*t&.list
*e-*esentatives.
<o is this doneB
Iet the total -e*centa'e o+ votes 'a*ne*ed 5& the -a*t&
and ,%lti-l& it a'ainst the *e,ainin' n%,5e* o+ seats.
The -*od%ct) hich shall not 5e *o%nded o++) ill 5e the
additional n%,5e* o+ seats allotted +o* the -a*t& list 8 5%t
the 7 seat li,it *%le shall still 5e o5se*ved.
E#amle$
#n this case) the B@<A? -a*t&.list 'a*ne*ed the hi'hest
total vote o+ 1)162)276 hich is (.770 o+ the total votes
cast +o* the -a*t&.list elections !15)250)200".
A--l&in' the +o*,%la a5ove/ !4e*centa'e o+ vote
'a*ne*ed" D !*e,ainin' seats" F n%,5e* o+ additional
seat
<ence) (.770 D 78 F 2.(2
Ro%ndin' o++ to the neDt hi'he* n%,5e* is not alloed
so 2.(2 *e,ains 2. B@<A? is a to.-e*cente* hich
,eans it has a '%a*anteed one seat 4L@S additional 2
seats o* a total o+ 7 seats. No i+ it so ha--ens that
B@<A? 'ot 200 o+ the votes cast) it ill still 'et 7
seats 5eca%se the 7 seat li,it *%le -*ohi5its it +*o,
havin' ,o*e than 7 seats.
No a+te* all the t0.-e*cente*s e*e 'iven thei*
'%a*anteed and additional seats) and the*e a*e still
%nocc%-ied seats) those seats shall 5e dist*i5%ted to the
*e,ainin' -a*t&.lists and those hi'he* in *anH in the
votin' shall 5e -*io*itiGed %ntil all the seats a*e occ%-ied.
%. No. B& a vote o+ 8.() the S%-*e,e Co%*t contin%ed to
disallo ,aAo* -olitical -a*ties !the liHes o+ @N#=O)
LABAN) etc" +*o, -a*tici-atin' in the -a*t&.list
elections.
Altho%'h the -onencia !$%stice Ca*-io" did -oint o%t that
the*e is no -*ohi5ition eithe* +*o, the Constit%tion o*
+*o, RA (261 a'ainst ,aAo* -olitical -a*ties +*o,
-a*tici-atin' in the -a*t&.list elections as the o*d
;-a*t&> as not 9%ali+ied and that even the +*a,e*s o+
the Constit%tion in thei* deli5e*ations deli5e*atel&
alloed ,aAo* -olitical -a*ties to -a*tici-ate in the -a*t&.
list elections -*ovided that the& esta5lish a secto*al in'
hich *e-*esents the ,a*'inaliGed !indi*ect
-a*tici-ation") $%stice 4%no) in his se-a*ate o-inion)
conc%**ed 5& ( othe* A%stices) eD-lained that the ill o+
the -eo-le de+eats the ill o+ the +*a,e*s o+ the
Constit%tion -*ecisel& 5eca%se it is the -eo-le ho
%lti,atel& *ati+ied the Constit%tion 8 and the ill o+ the
-eo-le is that onl& the ,a*'inaliGed sections o+ the
co%nt*& shall -a*tici-ate in the -a*t&.list elections.
<ence) ,aAo* -olitical -a*ties cannot -a*tici-ate in the
-a*t&.list elections) di*ectl& o* indi*ectl&.
%I. ?es) the 7 seat li,it *%le is valid. This is one a& to
ens%*e that no one -a*t& shall do,inate the -a*t&.list
s&ste,.
LAYUG %. COMELEC !A%*isdiction o+ COMELEC
ove* dete*,ination o+ -a*t&.list 9%ali+ication"
J666 SCRA 721 I.R. No. 122286 :e5*%a*& 28) 2012K
)AC*S:
4etitione* Rolando =. La&%' !La&%'") in his ca-acit& as
a taD-a&e* and conce*ned citiGen) +iled a 4etition to
=is9%ali+& B%ha& 4a*t&.List +*o, -a*tici-atin' in the
Ma& 10) 2010 elections) and B*othe* MiHe +*o, 5ein' its
no,inee.
<e a*'%ed that B%ha& 4a*t&.List is a ,e*e ;eDtension o+
the El Shaddai)> hich is a *eli'io%s sect. As s%ch) it is
dis9%ali+ied +*o, 5ein' a -a*t&.list %nde* Section 5)
4a*a'*a-h 2) A*ticle 1# o+ the 128( Constit%tion) as ell
as Section 6) 4a*a'*a-h 1 o+ RA No. (261) othe*ise
Hnon as the %Party-List &ystem '!t() Neithe* does
B*othe* MiHe) ho is alle'edl& a 5illionai*e *eal estate
5%siness,an and the s-i*it%al leade* o+ El Shaddai)
9%ali+& as ;one ho 5elon's to the ,a*'inaliGed and
%nde**e-*esented secto* DDD>) as *e9%i*ed o+ -a*t&.list
no,inees %nde* Section 6 !(" o+ COMELEC Resol%tion
No. 880(.
COMELEC denied the -etition and) the*e 5ein' no
,otion +o* *econside*ation +iled ithin the *e'le,enta*&
-e*iod) said Resol%tion as decla*ed +inal and
eDec%to*&. MR havin' 5een denied3 hence) this -etition
+o* Ce*tio*a*i %nde* R%le 65 he*e *es-ondents assail the
A%*isdiction o+ the Co%*t a*'%in' that) ith the
-*ocla,ation o+ B%ha& 4a*t&.List on $%l& 70) 2010 and
the ass%,-tion into o++ice o+ its *e-*esentatives) Ma*iano
Michael =M. 1ela*de) $*. and Cillia, #*in C. Tien') it
is no the <o%se o+ Re-*esentatives Electo*al T*i5%nal
!<RET" that has the sole and eDcl%sive A%*isdiction ove*
9%estions *elatin' to thei* 9%ali+ications..
ISSUE: Chethe* the <RET has A%*isdiction. !T<#S
CASE =#= NOT MALE #N #SS@E T<E
=#SM@AL#:#CAT#ON O: B@<A? 4ART?.L#ST3 #
<O4E T<#S #S T<E CORRECT CASE"
RULING:
NO. Section 5 !1" o+ the sa,e A*ticle identi+ies ho the
N,e,5e*sN o+ the <o%se a*e/ !1" ,e,5e*s ho shall 5e
elected +*o, le'islative dist*icts3 and !2" those ho shall
5e elected th*o%'h a -a*t&.list s&ste, o+ *e'iste*ed
national) *e'ional) and secto*al -a*ties o* o*'aniGations.
#n this case) B%ha& 4a*t&.List as entitled to to seats
in the <o%se that ent to its +i*st to no,inees) Ma*iano
Michael =M. 1ela*de) $*. and Cillia, #*in C. Tien'.
On the othe* hand) B*othe* MiHe) 5ein' the +i+th
no,inee) did not 'et a seat and th%s had not 5eco,e a
,e,5e* o+ the <o%se o+ Re-*esentatives. #nd%5ita5l&)
the HRE* has no A%*isdiction ove* the iss%e o+ B*othe*
MiHeOs 9%ali+ications.
Neithe* does the HRE* have A%*isdiction ove* the
9%ali+ications o+ B%ha& 4a*t&.List) as it is vested 5& la)
s-eci+icall&) the Party-List &ystem '!t) %-on the
COMELEC.
Thus, it is the Court, under its power to review
decisions, orders, or resolutions of the COMEEC
provided under Section 9, 6rticle &:-6 of the ";*9
Constitution and Section ", 'ule +9 of the
COMEEC 'ules of 1rocedure that has <urisdiction
to hear the instant petition.
!ang Ling"od vs. COMELEC
#acts$
On Ma& 71) 2012) ABANI L#NILO= ,ani+ested
5e+o*e the COMELEC its intent to -a*tici-ate in the
Ma& 2017 elections. On A%'%st 2) 2012) the
COMELEC iss%ed Resol%tion No. 2517)
2
hich)
inte* alia *e9%i*ed -*evio%sl& *e'iste*ed -a*t&.list
'*o%-s that have +iled thei* *es-ective
Mani+estations o+ #ntent to %nde*'o s%,,a*&
evidentia*& hea*in' +o* -%*-oses o+ dete*,inin'
thei* contin%in' co,-liance ith the *e9%i*e,ents
%nde* Re-%5lic Act !R.A." No. (261
7
and the
'%idelines set +o*th in An' Ba'on' Ba&ani.O:C
La5o* 4a*t& v. COMELEC.
6
Acco*din'l&) on A%'%st 2 2012) the COMELEC
iss%ed a Resol%tion) hich set the s%,,a*&
evidentia*& hea*in' o+ -*evio%sl& *e'iste*ed -a*t&.
list '*o%-s. The COMELEC sched%led th*ee !7"
dates .A%'%st 1() 71 and Se-te,5e* 7) 2012 .+o* the
s%,,a*& hea*in' o+ ABANI L#NILO=Os
Mani+estation o+ #ntent to ena5le it to sho -*oo+ o+
its contin%in' 9%ali+ication %nde* the -a*t&.list
s&ste,.
On A%'%st 16) 2012) ABANI L#NILO=) in
co,-liance ith the COMELECOs A%'%st 2) 2012
Resol%tion) +iled ith the COMELEC -e*tinent
doc%,ents to -*ove its contin%in' co,-liance ith
the *e9%i*e,ents %nde* R.A. No. (261.
A+te* d%e -*oceedin's) the COMELEC En Bane in
a Resol%tion dated Nove,5e* ( 2012) cancelled
ABANI L#NILO=Os *e'ist*ation as a -a*t&Plist
'*o%-. The COMELEC En Bane -ointed o%t that
ABANI L#NILO= +ailed to esta5lish its t*acH
*eco*d in %-li+tin' the ca%se o+ the ,a*'inaliGed and
%nde**e-*esented3 that it ,e*el& o++e*ed
-hoto'*a-hs o+ so,e alle'ed activities it cond%cted
a+te* the Ma& 2010 elections. The COMELEC En
Bane +%*the* o-ined that ABANI L#NILO= +ailed
to sho that its no,inees a*e the,selves
,a*'inaliGed and %nde**e-*esented o* that the& have
5een involved in activities ai,ed at i,-*ovin' the
-li'ht o+ the ,a*'inaliGed and %nde**e-*esented
secto*s it clai,s to *e-*esent.
ABANI L#NILO= s%5,itted -ict%*es shoin' a
se,ina* held on 10 $%l& 2010) Medical Mission on
11 Nove,5e* 2010) =isaste* Mana'e,ent T*ainin'
on 21 Octo5e* 2011) BooH.'ivin' on 28 $%ne 2011)
and Medical Mission on 1 =ece,5e* 2011.
And as i+ to ins%lt the Co,,ission) the -hoto'*a-hs
s%5,itted a--ea* to have 5een edited to sho in the
5anne*s that ABANI L#NILO= -a*tici-ated in the
activities. ABANI L#NILO=Os na,e and lo'o as
s%-e*i,-osed on so,e 5anne*s to +ei'n
-a*tici-ation in the activities
%ss&'$
whether the COMEEC gravely a!used its
discretion in cancelling 686(= &(=>O?@s
registration under the party-list system
R&(ing$
YES. Cont*a*& to the COMELECOs clai,) secto*al
-a*ties o* o*'aniGations) s%ch as ABANI
L#NILO=) a*e no lon'e* *e9%i*ed to add%ce
evidence shoin' thei* t*acH *eco*d) i.e. -*oo+ o+
activities that the& have %nde*taHen to +%*the* the
ca%se o+ the secto* the& *e-*esent. #ndeed) it is
eno%'h that thei* -*inci-al advocac& -e*tains to the
s-ecial inte*est and conce*ns o+ thei* secto*.
Othe*ise stated) it is s%++icient that the ideals
*e-*esented 5& the secto*al o*'aniGations a*e 'ea*ed
toa*ds the ca%se o+ the secto*Qs) hich the&
*e-*esent.
#+ at all) evidence shoin' a t*acH *eco*d in
*e-*esentin' the ,a*'inaliGed and %nde**e-*esented
secto*s is onl& *e9%i*ed +*o, no,inees o+ secto*al
-a*ties o* o*'aniGations that *e-*esent the
,a*'inaliGed and %nde**e-*esented ho do not
+act%all& 5elon' to the secto* *e-*esented 5& thei*
-a*t& o* o*'aniGation.
#n s%,) that ABANI L#NILO=Os *e'ist*ation ,%st
5e cancelled d%e to its ,is*e-*esentation is a
concl%sion de*ived +*o, a si,-listic *eadin' o+ the
-*ovisions o+ R.A. No. (261 and the i,-o*t o+ the
Co%*tOs dis-osition in ton' 4a'la%,. Not eve*&
,is*e-*esentation co,,itted 5& national) *e'ional)
and secto*al '*o%-s o* o*'aniGations o%ld ,e*it
the denial o* cancellation o+ thei* *e'ist*ation %nde*
the -a*t&.list s&ste,. The ,is*e-*esentation ,%st
*elate to thei* 9%ali+ication as a -a*t&.list '*o%-. #n
this *e'a*d) the COMELEC '*avel& a5%sed its
disc*etion hen it insisted on *e9%i*in' ABANI
L#NILO= to -*ove its t*acH *eco*d
notithstandin' that a '*o%- s t*acH *eco*d is no
lon'e* *e9%i*ed -%*s%ant to the Co%*t s
-*ono%nce,ent in Aton' 4a'la%,
LiHeise) %-holdin' the cancellation o+ ABANI
L#NILO= s *e'ist*ation) notithstandin' that it
as a5le to o5tain s%++icient n%,5e* o+ votes +o* a
le'islative seat) o%ld se*ve no -%*-ose othe* than
to s%5ve*t the ill o+ the electo*ate ho voted to
'ive ABANI L#NILO= the -*ivile'e to *e-*esent
the, in the <o%se o+ Re-*esentatives.