The Supreme Court has nullified the decision of the Commission on Elections to recognize Soliman Villamin, Jr. as the national chairperson of MAGSASAKA (Magkakasama sa Sakahan, Kaunlaran) Party-List. 

In a decision of the en banc promulgated on May 21, 2024, the court ordered the commission to issue a certificate of proclamation to the “rightful nominee” of MAGSASAKA Party-List. 

The court said the COMELEC gravely abused its discretion when it unlawfully instituted Villamin, Jr. as the party’s national chairperson. 

SC: Quezon City gov’t 'wrongfully foreclosed' Manila Seedling Bank Foundation 

The high court noted that Villamin was already validly and convincingly removed as party-list’s leader. 

“Moreover, since Villamin was no longer the National Chairperson of MAGSASAKA, his nominee, Roberto Gerard L. Nazal, Jr., could not have been validly proclaimed as MAGSASAKA's Party-list Representative in the House of
Representatives,” the court said in the decision penned by Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez.

 In 2021, the COMELEC First Division found that the removal of Villamin is in violation of the group’s Saligang Batas at Alituntunin ng Magkakasama sa Sakahan, Kaunlaran.

 The Supreme Court however emphasized that a party must be allowed to interpret its own governing rules and remove officials from participating in its own affairs.

 SC voids quitclaims signed by security guards defrauded by their employer

 The court noted that the decision to oust Villamin as party leader was not made arbitrarily, in relation to his participation in alleged illegal activities similar to pyramiding schemes. 

“A sectoral party like MAGSASAKA has the right to identify the people who constitute the association and the people who best represent the party’s ideologies and preference,” the court said. 

The court noted in the decision that MAGSASAKA garnered 276,889 votes in the 2022 elections which entitled it to a seat in the House of Representatives.