Manila
EN BANC
G.R. No. L-47883 March 25, 1978
LAKAS NG BAYAN (LABAN), petitioner,
vs.
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS & NACIONALISTA PARTY, respondents.
Primitivo R. de Leon, Neptali A. Gonzales, Napoleon G. Rama, Francisco E. Rodrigo, Jr. and Joker Arroyo for petitioner.
Solicitor General Estelito P. Mendoza, Assistant Solicitor General Vicente V. Mendoza and Assistant Solicitor General Reynato S. Puno for respondent Commission on Elections.
Ronald D. Roy and Edwin L. Segovia for respondent Nacionalista Party.
R E S O L U T I O N
BARREDO, J.:
Petition for prohibition and certiorari filed by Lakas ng Bayan (Laban) praying principally that the respondent Commission on Elections (Comelec) be enjoined "from according to respondent Nacionalista Party the rights and privileges of a separate political party without prejudice to said party from (sic) exercising such rights and privileges thru the Kilusan ng Bagong Lipunan in the forthcoming election for the Interim Batasang Pambansa on April 7th, 1978" by "reversing and nullifying the decision of the respondent Commission on Elections dated February 25, 1978 ", which dismissed its petition in Elections Case No. 1978-3 in the Comelec wherein it was prayed "that the name of the Nacionalista Party in the official ballot for the April 7th, 1978 elections for the Interim Batasang Pambansa be striken off and the effects thereof eliminated".
The trust of this petition, like the one which provoked Comelec's impugned resolution, is that "the listing of the N P in the official ballot had two effects, namely, the direct effects and the consequential effects.' As direct effects, it is maintained that the listing of the Nacionalista Party in the ballot give(s) undue advantage" to the Kilusang ng Bagong Lipunan or KBL candidates, who are also the candidates of the Nacionalista Party. It is also claimed in the petition that the Comelec gave the Nacionalista Party a favored placement in the official ballot by "center-setting" and giving it "star billing" therein, thereby utilizing the official ballot as a vehicle of propaganda, since in such arrangement "the KBL candidates are clearly portrayed in the official ballot itself as enjoying multiple support; of being supported not only by the KBL but also by another political unit, the Nacionalista Party while petitioner's candidates as well as all other candidates appear as having the support only of their respective political group or aggrupation. " Moreover, it is claimed that the official ballot as prepared by the Comelec "allows KBL candidates to be voted upon, to its undue advantage" because "it enables said candidates to be voted upon as a block in a number of six ways, namely, by writing either (1) Kilusan ng Bagong Lipunan, (2) KBL, (3) BL or (4) Nacionalista, (5) NP and (6) N - as against petitioner whose candidates can be voted upon as a block in only two ways, namely, Lakas ng Bayan or its acronym, Laban- " And so, it is charged, respondent Comelec "gravely abused its discretion entrusted to it in the preparation of the official ballot. It has even forsaken its constitutional duty to see to it that 'bona fide candidates for any public office shall be free from any form of harassment and discrimination.' (Section 9 [11 Article XII [c], 1973 Constitution.)"
Under the title of "consequential effects - 1 -", petitioner's fundamental posture is that in the light of current election developments and the various actions taken and resolutions adopted by the National Directorate of the Nacionalista Party on February 1, 1978, the "NP has become an adjunct of the KBL" and "after becoming an adjunct of the KBL, the Nacionalista Party could not act independently of the KBL"; it "has submerged its organization into the KBL which evolved into becoming the dominant political unit. The Nacionalista Party was reduced to a supportive, subordinate role, unfree of the KBL", so the "NP can operate only thru and within the KBL apparatus."
Under the same title, it is contended that pursuant to Section 140 of the Election Code of 1978, "a candidate may be in the ticket of only one political party, group or aggrupation", and the adoption by the Nacionalista Party of the whole ticket of 21 candidates of the KBL places not only one but twenty-one candidates in the ticket of more than one political party, group or aggrupation in violation of that express injunction.
As "Consequential effects -11 -", it is petitioner's pose that in the future elections, the separate recognition by the Comelec of the KBL and the NP would automatically give those two accreditation rights under the system of accreditation of political parties established in Section 8 of Article XII (c) of the 1973 Constitution.
Petitioner also deposits as "Consequential Effects - III -" (1) that because of the adoption by the Nacionalista Party of all the candidates of the KBL, said candidates would be "entitled to two separate advertising spaces and time in radio, television, and print media as against petitioner's candidates who would be entitled to only one despite the admonition to give equal time and space to all candidates" by Section 41 of the Election Code of 1978; (2) that with such adoption of candidates, "the KBL candidates would be able to spend double the amount allowed by the 1978 Election Code"; and (3) that under such arrangement complained of, the "KBL candidates — would, therefore, be entitled to a total of six watchers in every voting center as against three watchers for petitioner's candidates thru the expedient of the KBL and NP nominating three watchers each."
Acting on the petition, the Court required, in its resolution of March 3, 1978, respondents to comment thereon not later than March 8, 1978. On March 6, 1978, the Nacionalista Party filed its comment in which it argues:
First, that "there is nothing whatsoever in the law that prevents two or more political parties, groups or aggrupations from certifying the same set of candidates for an election, and by this token, one or more political parties, groups or aggrupations are not barred from supporting all the candidates of petitioner Lakas ng Bayan in the coming IBP elections."
Second, that the Nacionalista remains as an "independent entity" and, in this connection, asserts the following:
We can only be appalled indeed, by petitioner's unflattering innuendo that the Nacionalista Party is a nuisance party because it has lost its personality, having 'joined or been subordinated to its umbrella organization, the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan.'
We are at this point constrained to state that respondent Nacionalista Party is an institution in the political, cultural and social heritage of our people, and remains proud of having produced among the finest leaders and heroes of the Republic. It is thus such a distinction that impels the Nacionalista Party to participate in the forthcoming IBP elections as an independent entity if only to assure the people that its wills to remain an active voice and guardian in their political affairs in the best traditions of its history.
Third, that although it denies the alleged propaganda motivation in the placement of Nacionalista Party in the official ballot, it "has no objection to its name and its set of candidates being printed on any other portion of the ballot and to petitioner's priority to 'center-setting', if it so desires."
Fourth, that reference to the future accreditation of political parties is purely hypothetical and premature, since it is highly speculative how the matter will be resolved in the future.
And fifth, as to the charge of petitioner about equal space and equal time, campaign expense limitations and the number of watchers for political parties, respondent Nacionalista Party calls attention to Resolution No. 1289 of March 4, 1978 of the Comelec which is quoted in the Comment on behalf of the Comelec submitted by the Solicitor General as follows:
NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission on Elections by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution and the 1978 Election Code, promulgates, as it hereby promulgates, the following rules to govern the election expenses, appointment of watchers and use of print and broadcast media by political parties or groups that nominated a common set of candidates in the April 7, 1978 elections:
SECTION 1. Limitation upon expenses of political parties or groups with a common set of candidates. — When two or more political parties, groups or aggrupations have nominated a common set of official candidates, the said political parties, groups or aggrupations may jointly spend for their common candidates an amount the aggregate of which shall not exceed fifty centavos for every voter currently registered therein.
In case the political parties, groups or aggrupations fail to agree, the political party, group or aggrupation that first nominated the common set of candidates shall have the right to spend for the campaign of the said candidates to the exclusion of the other.
SEC. 2. Purchase of air time and/or advertising space for campaign purpose. — Political parties, groups or aggrupations supporting a common set of candidates shall be allowed to purchase jointly air time and/or advertising space for the campaign of their common candidates, but the total duration and quality of the air time and the aggregate amount of advertising space purchased shall not exceed that alloted to other political parties, groups or aggrupations that nominated only one set of candidates.
As far as practicable, in the case of candidates nominated by more than one political party, group or aggrupation the sale of air time and/or advertising space shall be made only to the candidates, the contract for the use of such air-time and/or advertising space being signed by the candidates concerned.
SEC. 3. Common watchers. Political parties, groups or aggrupations that nominated a common set of candidates shall be entitled to appoint jointly not more than three watchers in every voting center.
In case of disagreement, the political party, group or aggrupation that first nominated the candidates shall have the right to appoint the watchers to the exclusion of the other.ℒαwρhi৷
and gives the Court assurances that "it shall comply strictly with the said resolution.
The Comment of Comelec informs the Court that "in the official ballot the NP will appear in the left hand column immediately below the KBL". When the sample of the official ballot with such revised format was shown to counsels for petitioner when this case was heard on March 14, 1978, the latter did not indicate any further objection thereto insofar as placement is concerned.
In all other respects, the Comelec's comment reiterates substantially the arguments in the Comment of the Nacionalista Party. Regarding the vital issue of whether or not the provision of Section 140 of the Election Code to the effect that:
... Provided, finally, That a candidate may be in the ticket of only one political party, group or aggrupation; if he is included in the ticket of more than one political party, group or aggrupation presenting different sets of candidates, he shall immediately inform the Commission as to which ticket he chooses to be included, and if he fails to do so, he shall cease to be considered to belong to any ticket....
stands in the way of allowing the Nacionalista Party to adopt all the candidates of KBL and still maintain a separate listing in the official ballot, the Solicitor General additionally presents the following considerations:
Petitioner asserts as a matter of fact that the NP has become an adjunct of the KBL and consequently it can operate only thru and within the KBL apparatus.
At the very least, petitioner's assertion is of doubtful veracity. It is stoutly denied by the NP itself. Judicial notice can also be taken of the fact that the NP has registered with the COMELEC as a party. It has refused to be dissolved and he absorbed by the KBL. Its support of the KBL is the best proof that it exists as a party and intends to engage in active partisan, political activities. Petitioner cannot hoodwink respondent into accepting as reality an utterly disputable fact.
Similarly, there is no provision in the 1978 Election Code that proscribes two political units from supporting Identical sets of candidates. Petitioner's reliance on section 140 of the 1978 Election Code which provides —
... Provided, finally, That a candidate may be in the ticket of only one political party, group or aggrupation; if he is included in the ticket of more than one political party, group or aggrupation presenting different sets of candidates, he shall immediately inform the Commission as to which ticket he chooses to be included, and if he fails to do so, he shall cease to be considered to belong to any ticket. ...
is erroneous. A fair reading of the provision will yield the ineluctable conclusion that its purpose is to prevent the confusion that win result if a candidate appears in the ticket of more than one political party, group or aggrupation presenting different sets of candidates especially in the light of the adoption of the block voting mechanism. This confusion cannot arise in a situation where a common set of candidates is supported by two political units as in the case at bar.
Petitioner's interpretation may have a color of correctness if the law simply provided that a candidate can be in the ticket of only one political party, group or aggrupation without any further qualification. For then one can appreciably argue that the intendment of the law to limit the appearance of candidates in one ticket is all pervasive since it does not distinguish whether or not the sponsoring party, group or aggrupation is presenting different sets of candidates. Section 140 of the 1978 Election Code however is not so worded, hence, petitioner's compartmentalized construction of the law by fragmenting its sentences without giving them the desired continuity of thought does violence to canons of statutory interpretation.
The restrictive reading of the provision by petitioner is also at war with the essence of parliamentary system of government. It is common learning that coalition of parties, or of people pursuing parallel programs of government is a usual feature of parliamentary governments. The NP support of the KBL candidates constitutes no more than an early exercise of this established parliamentary practice.
Thus, with the removal of the Nacionalista Party from "center-setting" and "star billing" in the official ballot and the promulgation of Comelec Resolution 1289 aforequoted, it would appear that the arguments of alleged harrassment and discrimination and undue and unfair advantage that must have made petitioner seek protection from the Court have lost basis. Indeed, the swift and effective action taken by the Comelec on the matter two days after the petition was filed purporting to correct erroneous impressions that might have been left in the mind of petitioner by its decision in Election Case No. 1978-3 is worthy of special mention. To be sure, We have read the questioned decision and nowhere could We find therein any ruling giving or condoning the apprehended advantages in regard to equal time and equal space, the limitation of campaign expenditures and the designation of watchers by political parties and groups or aggrupations. But since petitioner wants to be sure that its candidates are not discriminated against in these respects, Comelec lost no time, upon realizing evidently that it had overlooked passing squarely on said points which were brought to its attention in the pleading of petitioner, Annex C of the petition herein, to properly deal with the complaint in accordance with the dictates of fairness and equality of opportunity among all the candidates.
This is as it should be. It is always best to minimize if not avoid the causes of litigation by voluntary action specially where public interest is involved and speedy action is of the essence. Considering the situation of its docket which requires almost superhuman effort to ease, the time and effort of the Supreme Court are better spared for thousands of other cases more deserving of its attention.
Thus, the commendable attitude shown by respondent Comelec has left the Court with only one issue to settle, namely, whether or not the Comelec acted against the law or in grave abuse of discretion in sanctioning and giving due course to the wholesale adoption by the Nacionalista Party of all the candidates of the KBL in Metro Manila or Region IV. (It appears that the same has been done in all the other regions.) In this regard, the Comelec if of the view that the law itself does not give it any further room to accommodate petitioner. According to the Comelec, since Section 199 of the Revised Election Code ordains the automatic registration of the Nacionalista Party, Liberal Party, Citizens Party and other national parties, on account of their registration before 1972, and expressly entitles said parties "to nominate and support their respective candidates for representative in the interim Batasang Pambansa" and, on the other hand, petitioner does not challenge the constitutionality of those provisions, it has no alternative but to give due course to the listing of the Nacionalista Party in the official ballot, considering further that, in its view, Section 140 of the same Code, contrary to the contention of petitioner allows multiple nominations by different parties of the same set of candidates.
On its part, petitioner submits that Section 140 is unequivocal and crystal-clear in enjoining in unmistakable terms that "A candidate may be in the ticket of only one political party, group or aggrupation." Such being the law, how can it be possible, petitioner contends, for 21 candidates to do so. To bolster its argument, Senator Rodrigo even pointed out that the intent of the law is to prevent any candidate "namamangka sa dalawang ilog " It is also contended that it is inconsistent candidate to be trying to cater to the favor of more than one party.
From another point of view, petitioner maintains that "The respondent Comelec has acted as if it were unaware of current election developments" when it ignored Laban's contention that the Nacionalista Party has become an adjunct of the KBL and can, therefore, operate only within the latter's apparatus. Actually, petitioner appears to be a little lost in how to categorize the status of the Nacionalista Party vis-a-vis the KBL. Petitioner's counsel, Atty. Arroyo had to plead to the Court at the hearing to give a little allowance for any imprecision in the language of their petition because, perhaps like the Solicitor General when he was drafting the Code, they found themselves racing with time when they prepared the same. But there is really no need to try to dwell at length or give decisive importance to the question of whether or not the Nacionalista Party and the KBL have distinct and separate personalities. Actually, if there is anything extant in the evidence submitted by the petitioner at the hearing consisting of the minutes of the meeting and the resolutions adopted by the National Directorate of the Nacionalista Party on February 1, 1978, Exhibits A, B and C, which are made Appendices A, B and C also of this decision, it is that the Nacionalista Party refused to be either reorganized or merged or otherwise fused with any other entity, including the KBL, thus preserving its independent personality as the historical political party of the past. Still such separate individuality is not, in Our view, decisive here.
What is seemingly more on the point in petitioner's stand is that these documents purportedly show that the Nacionalista Party is the sponsor of the KBL, so much so that its national directorate authorized the President (President Marcos), its titular head, to:—
The National Directorate then proceeded to adopt another resolution to authorize the President to perform the following tasks in their behalf, to wit:
1. To appoint the interim officers of the Bagong Lipunan Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Nacionalista- Liberal, atbp.;
2. To constitute an ad hoc committee to screen and subsequently proclaim the official candidates to be fielded by the said coalition movement in the forthcoming Interim Batasang Pambansa elections; and
3. To formulate the platform or program of government of the coalition movement, including rules and regulations to implement the same. (Annex A, pp. [31,14].)
Under such circumstances, petitioner would insist that to avoid the advantages that would accrue to each of the two groups as a result of their separate listing, and for the sake of fairness, they should be considered as just one and the same party, group or aggrupation.
The Court does not find sufficient merit in the pose of petitioner. At the hearing, the Solicitor General informed the Court that as Chairman of the Committee of the Batasang Bayan on the Revision of Laws and the Election Code, it was he who prepared the draft of the Election Code of 1978. He explained that the provision relied upon by petitioner was intended merely to avoid confusion in the preparation of the ballot among voters who would wish to utilize the block-voting and that the Batasang Bayan could not have had in mind prohibiting the same set of candidates from being nominated by more than one political party, since no confusion could possibly arise in such a case. Moreover, he admitted quite candidly that he was working under time pressure, otherwise the wording of the provision could have been more felicitous But even without taking into account the explanation of the Solicitor General, there are other considerations which to Our mind lead to the conclusion that the impugned ruling of the respondent is in accordance with law. Much less can it be dubbed as a grave abuse of discretion.
We are convinced there is no point in reading Section 140 of the Election Code of 1978 in the sense that it is illegal for a political party to adopt the complete set of candidates of another political deputy, group or aggrupation. To do so can even result in an abridgment of the freedom of association and political beliefs consecrated in the Constitution-Coalition of parties is not strange in politics, particularly in countries with parliamentary governments.
Relatedly, let us consider the circumstances obtaining in the Philippines nowadays. It is a matter of judicial notice that in view of the suspension of political activities during the last five years of martial law and because of the institution of the New Society the status of Political Parties and the behavior of politicians in our country today cannot be expected to be as clearly definable as they should otherwise be. It has been said too often to be ignored that to a considerable extent the proclamation of martial law was caused by the excesses and abuses that characterize our politics and the conduct of our politicians before. Now, the basic purpose of martial law aside from-combatting and suppressing the subversion and rebellion is to reform our society to the end that the causes for their may be eliminated. The sweeping scope of the reforms intended naturally include that of political parties. Accordingly, it is but reasonable to assume that the provision of Section 199 of the Code recognizing the continued registration of the Nacionalista Party, the Liberal Party, the Citizens Party and other old groups could not be meant to perpetuate them just as they were in 1972, but rather to enable them only to have a fresh start and ultimately adjust themselves to the requirements of the now order.
It must be borne in mind that the election of April 7 next is the first one we are going to hold since 1972. In truth, there has been just enough time, since the holding thereof was officially announced, for the existing political parties to improvise ways and means of meeting the exigencies of the situation. No one can pretend that the old political parties, including the Nacionalista Party, have been able to adequately adopt the desired reformatory steps so that they may conform with the tenets of the New Society. As We see it, and as can be gathered from the very evidence of petitioner, Exhibits A, B and C, the KBL is one of such improvisations. The KBL is not a political party. It is a group or aggrupation which in the of Section 3 of Resolution 1269 of the Comelec is "a temporary alliance, union or coalition including its branches and divisions, of persons or parties for the purpose of joint action and combining their resources to support a common list of candidates under a ticket officially nominated by it in contemplation of the system of voting provided under the 1978 Election Code for the election of members of the interim Batasang Pambansa". According to Annex B, the resolution of the National Directorate of the Nacionalista Party d "creating the Bagong Lipunan Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Nacionalista-Liberal ATBP", it is "a new political movement to be known as the Bagong Lipunan Kilusan etc., which shall serve as an alliance, united front or umbrella organization for all Nacionalista Liberty veterans and other groups, association or individuals willing to support the New Society initiated by the President and which shad represent the interests of the New Society in the forthcoming elections through the fielding of candidates therefor." More extensively, the whereases of its creation are stated thus:
WHEREAS, elections shall be conducted on April 7, 1978 to determine the members of the Interim Batasang Pambansa, the establishment of which being a decisive step towards the orderly and smooth restoration of political normalcy in the country;
WHEREAS, during this crucial period, the country can in afford direct partisan strife characteristic of elections under the old order, and must instead adhere closely to the course of national unity and brotherhood under the New Society;
WHEREAS, various leaders and individuals, regardless of their affiliations and loyalties to political parties, groups or associations have indicated their desired to support the President in the pursuit of the goals and objectives of the New Society as well as the reforms initiated by the national leadership under the new order,
WHEREAS, there is a need for a tangible, dynamic and responsive force under which the said followers and supporters of the New Society can be effectively united and mobilized during the forthcoming Interim Batasang Pambansa elections;
WHEREAS, now is the time to institutionalize in constructive political terms the success of the New Society in strengthening the national Identity and independence, developing the economy, promoting social justice and democratizing the base of Philippine democracy.
Considering all these circumstances and having in view the rejection, according to Exhibit A, by the same national directorate of the proposals to change the platform and rules and regulations of the party and allowing it thereafter to field its own candidates for membership in the Interim Batasang Pambansa for using the same name Nacionalista Party and (2) change the name of the party to "Bagong Lipunan Nacionalista" with new officers, platform and rules and regulations "embodying the goals and objectives of the New Society", it cannot be fairly said that the directorate had consented to the absorption of the party by the KBL. From these documents before Us, it is but reasonable to hold that while a coalition of forces was indeed agreed upon and implemented, with the Nacionalistas spearheading the movement, the Nacionalista Party nevertheless retained its independent and, in consequence, all the rights and privileges appertaining thereto. To be sure, the directorate did agree to authorize the President to more or less decide on the procedure of selection or on the selection itself of the candidates of the KBL, but We are not sufficiently persuaded that such authority necessarily precludes the right to the Nacionalista Party as such to take the measures it may deem proper for the preservation of its own status and image, as a political party and its rights and privileges as such for the purposes of subsequent elections. In other words, by nominating as its own the candidates of the KBL, the Nacionalista Party merely gave the mass of its loyal and die-hard partymen the opportunity to vote distinctly as Nacionalista in the coming election, leaving it for the future, when political matters shall have had more time and opportunity to fully develop and firm themselves up in relation to the modes and objectives of the New Society, for each of them to join the party of their choice, assuming the KBL win eventually evolve into a new political party. Until that time comes, it would be ignoring significant historical realities and practically placing political thought in a straight jacket to recognize the KBL as the exclusive vehicle for the articulation of political Ideals. For that matter, the Liberal Party were likewise free to consider the Laban as not necessarily the final organization of the opposition.
After a nowhere in the Election Code is there any prohibition against such a political approach to the prevailing situation, as discussed above. Contrary to the contention of petitioner, the adoption by the Nacionalista Party of all the 21 candidates of the KBL is not multiplication by that number of the violation of the injunction in Section 140 against a candidate being in the ticket of more than one party. While indeed it would appear that instead of only one candidate, 21 candidates are in the ticket of more than one party, the truth of the matter is that they actually compose the whole ticket and that ticket is only one. We are satisfied that the two clauses of the provision in question should be read as a whole and understood or construed as merely an emphatic way of projecting the point that a candidate should not be in two different sets or distinct tickets of candidates. As We see it, the basic intent is to discourage opportunism, wherein a candidate takes advantage of two opposing groups to promote his personal victory in complete disregard of the fact that when two parties have different sets of candidates, it follows that they are not fully agreed on and may even be opposed to each other in objectives and ideals, hence the obvious lack of principle and immorality of being carried by both. These defects cannot be present when the two parties or groups have identical candidates for a given election, signifying thereby that they are identically motivated by the same aspirations for the purposes at least of that par. particular election. It may be that by such ephemeral commonality of candidates, objectives and Ideals certain practical advantages could emerge that would enhance the victory of the common ticket, but whatever drawback there might be in such a situation can be overshadowed by the certainty that the voters in their inherent wisdom will not permit the practice to work to their ultimate injury. Besides, those supposed advantages are open to all similarly situated to take and it is not for those who have filed to act opportunely to complaint against those who are more prompt in acting in the legitimate pursuance of what is good for them.
PREMISES CONSIDERED, the petition is denied due course.
Aquino, Concepcion, Jr., Santos and Fernandez, JJ., concur.
Makasiar and Antonio, JJ., concur in the result.
Muñoz Palma, J., took no part.
MINUTES OF THE ORGANIZATION NATIONAL MEETING
OF THE
BAGONG LIPUNAN KILUSAN NG NAGKAKAISANG
NACIONALISTA-LIBERAL,
ATBP.
The National Directorate of the Nacionalista Party, a listing of -the members of which is attached herein as Annex No. 1, was called to a meeting by his Excellency, President Ferdinand E. Marcos in his capacity as titular head of the party on February 1, 1978 at Heroes Hall, Malacanang, Metro-Manila.
The meeting was caged to order at 10:00 a.m. by President Marcos, who briefly recounted the historic events that led to the declaration of Martial Law and the successful efforts of the National government not only in suppressing the existing rebellion but also in laying the foundations of a New Society. He then caged the attention of the National Directorate to the forthcoming elections of the members of the Interim Batasang Pambansa on April 7, 1978 as one of the decisive steps being undertaken to gradually bring back the country to political normalcy. The President explained that it was imperative that the Nacionalista Party now reorganize its ranks in a way that would foster unity among the great majority of our people who adhere to the Ideals of the New Society and thereby preserve, if not increase, the gains resulting therefrom.
Three (3) methods of reorganizing the Nacionalista Party were proposed, namely:
1. To continue using the name Nacionalista Party and field its candidates for membership in the Interim Batasang Pambansa, except that the party platform as well as its rules and regulations may be changed in the light of present day conditions,
2. To change the name of the party to "Bagong Lipunan Nacionalista" with a new set of officers working under a new platform as well as rules and regulations embodying the goals and objectives of the New Society; and
3. To organize a coalition movement united front or umbrella organization that shall include as its members Nacionalista Liberals, veterans as well as other political sectoral and socio-civic aggrupations and individuals who adhere to the Ideals and principles of the New Society, and which shall field its own candidates in the Interim Batasang Pambansa elections.
Among the three proposals, the third, made by Ex-Speaker JOSE B. LAUREL, JR., was supported by the President and recommended for approval or adoption by the Central Commit tee of the Nacionalista Party.
Consequently, in view of the recommendation of the Central Committee, Ex-Senate President GIL. J. PUYAT, elective President of the Nacionalista Party on leave in favor of Ex. President Pro-Tempore Jose Roy, formally presented to the National Directorate of the Nacionalista Party a motion to approve a resolution organizing the aforementioned coalition movement to be denominated as Bagong Lipunan Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Nacionalista-Liberal Atbp. After the motion was duly seconded, the National Directorate unanimously approved the said resolution a copy of which is attached herewith as Annex No. 2.
The National Directorate then proceeded to adopt another resolution to authorize the President to perform the following tasks in their behalf, to wit:
1. To appoint the interim officers of the Bagong Lipunan Kilusan ng Na Nacionalista-Liberal, Atbp.;
2. To constitute an ad hoc committee to screen and subsequently proclaim the official candidates to be fielded by the said coalition movement in the forthcoming Interim Batasang Pambansa elections; and
3. To formulate the platform or program of government of the coalition movement including rules and regulations to implement the same.
Attached herewith as Annex No. 3 is a copy of the said resolution.
By virtue of the foregoing resolution, the President appointed DLGCD Secretary JOSE A. RONO and Honorable LUIS YULO as Secretary-General and Treasurer respectively of the coalition movement. In addition, the following were appointed interim officers in charge of the various regions:
| NAMES | REGIONS |
| CONRADO ESTRELLA | I |
| JUAN PONCE ENRILE | II |
| EDUARDO COJUANGCO | III |
| IMELDA ROMUALDEZ MARCOS | IV |
| FELICISIMO SAN LUIS | IV-A |
| FELIX FUENTEBELLA | V |
| ROBERTO S. BENEDICTO | VI |
| LORENZO TEVES | VII |
| BENJAMIN ROMUALDEZ | VIII |
| VICENTE M. CERILLES | IX |
| EMMANUEL PELAEZ | X |
| ANTONIO O. FLOREINDO | XI |
| ALI DIMAPORO | XII |
Thereafter, to immediately operationalize the coalition movement, the National Directorate decided to adopt the following courses of action:
1. To establish its national headquarters at the Floro Building, Roxas Boulevard, Metro-Manila, for which purpose, the Secretary-General or his duly authorized representative shall be authorize to negotiate for the lease of the said premises, to sign, execute and deliver all documents and papers that shall be necessary and required for the purpose.
2. To establish regional headquarters in each of the thirteen (13) regional centers, which shall temporarily be situated at the personal residences or offices of the interim officers of the coalition movement; and
3. To form a liaison group composed of DLGCD Secretary of JOSE A. RONO, DND Undersecretary CARMELO BARBERO and Governor IGNACIO SANTIAGO of Bulacan which shall confer with other political parties, socio-civic and other sectoral organizations, associations, etc. (including independents and individual members of such groups) in order to accommodate them into the membership of the coalition movement. if they so desire.
Finally, the National Directorate authorized DLGCD Secretary JOSE A. RONO to prepare the forms of Certificate of Affiliation of the prospective members of the Bagong Lipunan Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Nacionalista- Liberal Atbp., a copy of which certificate shall be attached herewith as Annex No. 4.
There being no further business to transact, the meeting was adjourned at 2:00 p.m.
Certified Correct:
(Sgd.) CONSTANCIO CASTEÑEDASecretary-General
Nacionalista Party
(Sgd.) JOSE A. RONO
Acting Secretary-General
Bagong Lipunan Kilusan ng
Nagkakaisang Nacionalista-
Liberal Atbp.
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to-before me this 8th day of February, 1978, affiant exhibiting to me his Residence Certificate No. A-0000283, issued on Jan. 3, 1977 at Quezon City.
(Sgd.) Illegible
NOTARY PUBLIC
Until December 31, 1978
PTR 2658143 2/6/78 Q.C.
Doc. No. 29
Page No. 6
Book No. II
Series of 1978
RESOLUTION CREATING THE BAGONG LIPUNAN KILUSAN NG NAGKAKAISANG NACIONALISTA-LIBERAL ATBP.
WHEREAS, elections shall be conducted on April 7,1978 to determine the members of the Interim Batasang Pambansa, the establishment of which being a decisive step towards the orderly and smooth restoration of political normalcy in the country;
WHEREAS, during this crucial period, the country can M afford direct partisan strife characteristic of elections under the old order, and must instead adhere closely to the course of national unity and brotherhood under the New Society;
WHEREAS, various leaders and individuals, regardless of their affiliations and loyalties to political parties, groups or associations, have indicated their desire to support the President in the pursuit of the goals and objectives of the New Society as well as the reforms initiated by the national leadership under the new order,
WHEREAS, there is a need for a tangible, dynamic and responsive force under which the said followers and supporters of the New Society can be effectively united and mobilized during the forthcoming Interim Batasang Pambansa elections;
WHEREAS, now is the time to institutionalize in constructive political terms the success of the New Society in strengthening the national Identity and independence, developing the economy, promoting social justice and democratizing the base of Philippine democracy;
THEREFORE, on motion of ex-Senate President Gil J. Puyat, President of the Nacionalista Party, duly seconded, and upon the unanimous recommendation of the Central Committee of the Party, BE IT RESOLVED as it is hereby resolved to formally establish a new political movement to be known as the Bagong Lipunan Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Nacionalista-Liberal Atbp. which shall serve as an alliance, united front or umbrella organization for all Nacionalista Liberals, veterans and other groups, associations or individuals willing to support the New Society initiated by the President and which shall represent the interests of the said New Society in the forthcoming elections through the fielding of candidates therefor.
Unanimously adopted by the National Directorate of the Partido Nacionalista on February 1, 1978 at the Heroes Hall, Malacanang, Manila.ℒαwρhi৷
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT TO APPOINT THE INTERIM MEMBERS OF THE KILUSAN, TO CREATE AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO SCREENAND PROCLAIM THE CANDIDATES OF THE MOVEMENT AND TO FORMULATE THE PLATFORM AS WELL AS THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE KILUSAN.
WHEREAS, at the instance of the National Directorate of the Partido Nacionalista, the Bagong Lipunan Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Nacionalista- Liberty Atbp. has been formally established to serve as an alliance, umbrella organization or coalition movement for Nacionalistas and Liberals alike as well as Veterans and other groups, aggrupation or non-affiliated individuals who adhere to the New Society;
WHEREAS, there is a need to determine and constitute the internal organization of the aforementioned coalition movement and to activate the same for the interim Batasang Pambansa elections, for which purpose the Kilusan shall be its own candidates;
WHEREAS, His Excellency President F E. Marcos is the titular head of the Nacionalista Party;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED as it is hereby resolved to authorize His Excellency President Ferdinand E. Marcos to:
1. Appoint the interim officers of the Bagong Lipunan Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Nacionalista-Liberal, Atbp.
2. Create an ad hoc screening committee to n as well as proclaim the official candidates to be fielded by the Kilusan in the forthcoming interim Batasang Pambansa elections.
3. Effect the formulation of the platform and program of government of the Kilusan as well as the rules and regulations thereof.
Adopted unanimously by the National Directorate of the Nacionalista Party, February 1, 1978, at the Heroes Hall, Malacanang, Manila.
The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation
