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Atong Paglaum, Inc. Vs. Commission on Elections [Concurring Dissenting Opinion, J. Reyes]

G.R. Nos. 203766, 203818-19, 203922, 203936, 203958, 203960, 203976, 203981, 204002, 204094, 204100, 204122, 204125, 204126, 204139, 204141, 204153, 204158, 204174, 204216, 204220, 204236, 204238, 204239, 204240, 204263, 204318, 204321, 204323, 204341, 204356, 204358, 204359, 204364, 204367, 204370, 204374, 204379, 204394, 204402, 204408, 204410, 204421, 204425, 204426, 204428, 204435, 204436, 204455, 204484, 204485, 204486 and 204490 – ATONG PAGLAUM, INC. represented by its President, MR. ALAN IGOT, Petitioner, vs. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, Respondent; et al. [Concurring Dissenting Opinion, J. Reyes]

G.R. No. 203766 | 2013-04-02

EN BANC 

CONCURRING AND DISSENTING OPINION 

REYES, J.: 

In its noblest sense, the party-list system truly empowers the masses and ushers a new hope for genuine change. Verily, it invites those marginalized and underrepresented in the past — the farm hands, the fisher folk, the urban poor, even those in the underground movement — to come out and participate, as indeed many of them came out and participated during the last elections. The State cannot now disappoint and frustrate them by disabling and desecrating this social justice vehicle.1

The Court is tasked to resolve the fifty-three (53) consolidated Petitions for Certiorari...