Manila, Sept. 18 -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is ready to defend its decision to proclaim the Gabriela Women's Party as the 64th winning party-list group in the May 2025 elections.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said they are ready to answer the petition filed before the Supreme Court (SC) by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

"It's good this has been taken to the Supreme Court for clarification," he said in a statement. "Conflict of interpretations on a question of law is ripe for judicial review. We will defend our stand."

On Wednesday, the NTF-ELCAC asked the SC to issue a status quo ante order (SQAO) on the proclamation of Gabriela by the Comelec en banc, sitting as the Natio...