Comelec approves 144 party-list groups

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has given 144 party-list organizations the go-signal to field bets in the May polls.

The controversial gay rights group Ang Ladlad has made it to the list but not 162 other party-list aspirants.

In its 33-page Resolution No. 8744, the Comelec said the groups’ petitions for accreditation have been approved on the recommendation of the agency’s law department.

The Comelec said the accredited party-list groups have been carefully scrutinized for their track records, programs of action, and nationwide visibility and influence.

Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said Ang Ladlad’s inclusion in the list was on orders of the Supreme Court.

The high tribunal earlier said Ang Ladlad should stay on the list pending the resolution of its petition against a Comelec ruling barring it from the party-list polls.

The poll body said the 144 approved party-list groups should each submit not later than March 6 a list of five nominees or those who will take House seats in case they are elected.

Larrazabal said the names of the nominees would be published by the Comelec to enable the public to check their backgrounds.

The party-list system was conceived in 2001 to ensure that marginalized sectors are given representation in Congress.

But in the 2007 polls, some party-list organizations became controversial because of their nominees.

Two of them were Kasangga whose nominee Lourdes Arroyo is a sister of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, and Ang Bantay whose nominee, retired military general Jovito Palparan, is being accused by militant groups of human rights violations.

Larrazabal said concerned individuals may contest with the Comelec the choice of a nominee if they think he or she does not deserve to represent a certain sector.

Larrazabal, however, said the poll body does not compel party-list groups to include the names of their nominees in their campaign materials because the party-list system is not personality-based and that voters should not go for the nominees when they choose a party-list group. 

For women’s cause

A party-list group, which has raised eyebrows for proposing an expiry date on marriage license, claims it is a strong advocate of women empowerment with its livelihood programs aimed at making them financially independent.

The 1-ABAA (1-Akong Babaeng Astig Aasenso), which was among the party-list groups accredited by Comelec, said it has lined up livelihood and skills training programs for women.

“Our advocacy is to promote entrepreneurship among women, to provide them with skills and means to set up their own businesses,” Margie Tajon, 1-ABAA president, told The STAR.

She said women are generally vulnerable to abuse if they are dependent on their partners. Empowered women can pursue small time businesses and join the ranks of successful women entrepreneurs.

Tajon said most of their members are women engaged in various small time businesses. The group’s legislative agenda is to enact laws that will allow women easy access to financial capital and other support from the government.

The 1-ABAA hogged the limelight recently when it proposed an expiry date on marriage to spare incompatible couples from lengthy and costly legal proceeding in case they seek annulment.

Tajon clarified that its proposal aims to further strengthen marriage by allowing couples to renew and assess their relationship over time.

“If the couple really love each other then the decision to extend marriage will be mutual,” she said.

In the wake of the controversy, the group said it might settle for another scheme which is to allow couples to set a timeframe for the renewal of their marriage vows.

“We have to live with the realities of time that some couples are really not compatible so why not give a chance to become free again without going into lengthy legal process?”

Disqualification contested

Meanwhile, a retired police general and a popular singer have questioned before the SC their disqualification from the senatorial race by the poll body.

Romeo Maganto and Anthony Castelo asked the High Court to nullify Resolution No. 8713 issued by the Comelec last month and allow their names to be included in the ballots for the May 10 polls.

The two contested the position of the poll body that they lack capability to wage a nationwide campaign since they both registered as independent candidates – even if they were later adopted by the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL).

They alleged that Comelec’s ruling was “issued in evident discrimination” and “rendered in grave abuse of discretion.”

“Unless the respondent commission is ordered to include the names of petitioners Maganto and Castelo in the electronic ballots, for the May 10, 2010 elections, they will suffer grave and irreparable damage and injury because they would be forever prevented from running for senator by the sheer fact that their names will not be included in the electronic ballots among those voted upon in the May 10 elections,” the petition read.

Maganto and Castelo submitted to the SC letters of KBL party to Comelec endorsing them as senatorial bets.

They also questioned why the Comelec accepted the appeal of another disqualified senatorial hopeful, Nanette Espinosa, whose appeal was based on the same arguments as theirs.

Comelec has rejected the endorsement of KBL because it came late.

Maganto and Castelo were excluded from the initial list of approved candidates for failing to prove that they were capable of launching a nationwide campaign.

Maganto, a retired police general, filed his COC as an independent last Nov. 25. He justified his being independent by saying that he didn’t want to antagonize his friends in both the administration and the opposition.

He claimed to have millions of supporters all over the country.

Castelo, on the other hand, filed his COC last Nov. 30.

Aside from Maganto and Castelo, KBL will be fielding six senatorial candidates, namely Shariff Ibrahim Albani, Alma A. Lood, Regalado Maambong, Ma. Judea G. Millora, Imelda Papin, and Hector Villanueva.

KBL’s presidential bet is Dodong Acosta, with broadcaster Jose “Jay” Sonza as his running mate. With Edu Punay and Perseus Echeminada

Party-list groups accredited by the Commission on Elections:

 1. 1-AANI

 2. 1-Aangat Pilipino (1-AK)

 3. 1st  Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy (1-CARE)

 4. 1-Ako Babaeng Astig Aasenso (1-ABAA)

 5. 1Guardians Nationalist of the Philippines Inc. (1Ganap/Guardians)

 6. 1st Kabalikat ng Bayan Ginhawang Sangkatauhan (1st KABAGIS)

 7. A Blessed Federation of Farmers and Fishermen International inc. (A Blessed)

 8. Aangat Tayo (AT)

 9. Abakada Guro (ABAKADA)

 10. Abang Lingkod Inc. (Abang Lingkod)

 11. Abante Ilonggo (aba Ilongg)

 12. Abante Katutubo Inc. (Abante Ka)

 13. Abante Mindanao (Abamin)

 14. Abante Tribung Makabayan (ATM)

 15. Abono

 16. Action Brotherhood for Active Dreamers Inc. (Abroad)

 17. Action for Democracy and Development for the Tribal People (Add Tribal)

 18. Action for Dynamic Development Inc. (ADD)

 19. Act Teachers

 20. Action League of Indigenous Masses (ALIM)

 21. Adhikain at Kilusan ng Ordinaryong Tao para sa Lupa, Pabahay, Hanapbuhay at Kaunlaran (Ako)

 22. Adhikain ng mga Dakilang Anak ng Maharlika (ADAM)

 23. Adhikaing Alay ng Marino sa Sambayanan Inc. (Alon)

 24. Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba (ATING KOOP)

 25. Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment Through Action Cooperation and Harmony Towards Education Reform (A Teacher)

 26. Advocates for Special Children and the Handicapped Movement (Asahan Mo)

 27. Agapay ng Indigenous Peoples Right Alliance (A-IPRA)

 28. Agbiag Timpuyog Ilokano (AGBIAG)

 29. Agila Pwersa ng Nagkakaisang Magsasaka (AGILA)

 30. Agila ng Katutubong Pilipino (AGILA)

 31. Agri-Agra na Reporma para sa Magsasaka ng Pilipinas Movement (AGRI)

 32. Agrarian Development Association (ADA)

 33. Agricultural Section Alliance of the Philippines (AGAP)

 34. Ahon Pinoy (AHON)

 35. Akap Bata

 36. Akbay Pinoy OFW-National (APOI)

 37. Akbayan Citizens Action Party (Akbayan)

 38. Ako Ayoko sa Bawal na Droga (Ako)

 39. Ako Bicol Political Party (AKB)

 40. Aksyon Magsasaka Partido Tinig ng Masa (AKMA-PTM)

 41. Aksyon ng Mamamayang Nagkakaisa (Amana)

 42. Alagaan Natin Ating Kalusugan (Anakalusugan)

 43. Alagad

 44. Alay Buhay Community Development Foundation (Alay Buhay)

 45. Alay sa Bayan ng malayang Propesyunal at Repormang Kalakal (Abay Parak)

 46. Alliance of Advocates in Mining Advancement for Nation Progress (AAMA)

 47. Alliance for Barangay Concerns Party (ABC)

 48. Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD)

 49. Alliance for Philippines Security Guards Cooperative (AFPSEGCO)

 50. Alliance for Rural Concerns (ARC)

 51. Alliance for Association of Accredited Workers in the Water Sector (1-TUBIG formerly AAWAS)

 52. Alliance for Bicolnon Party (ABP-Bicolnon)

 53. Alliance for National Urban Poor Organizations Assembly Inc. (ANUPA)

 54. Alliance for People’s Organizations (APO)

 55. Alliance of Regional Coalitions Against People’s Povery (ARCAPP)

 56. Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE)

 57. Alliance Transport Sector (ATS)

 58. Alma sa Paghihikahos at Ignorasya (ALMA)

 59. Alyansa ng Mamamayang Naghihirap (ALMANA)

 60. Alyansa ng Media at Showbiz (AMS)

 61. Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan Inc. (AGHAM)

 62. Alyansa ng Bayanihan ng Magsasaka, manggagawang Bukid at Mangingisda (ABA)

 63. An Waray

 64. Anak Mindanao (AMIN)

 65. Anak Pawis (AP)

 66. Ang Agrikultura Natin Isulong (AANI)

 67. Ang Asosayon Sang Mangunguma Bisaya-Owa Mangunguman (AAMBIS-OWA)

 68. Ang Galing Pinoy (AG)

 69. Ang Laban ng Indigong Filipino (ALIF)

 70. Ang Ladlad LGBT Party (ANG LADLAD)

 71. Ang Mata’y Alagaan (AMA)

 72. Ang Tao Muna at Bayan (A TAMBAY)

 73. Angat Ating Kabuhayan Filipinas (ANAK)

 74. Arts Business and Science Professionals (ABS)

 75. Atong Paglaum

 76. Asosasyon ng mga Maliliit na Negos-yanteng Gumaganap (AMANG)

 77. Association for Righteousness Advocacy in Leadership (ARAL)

 78. Association of Laborers and Employess (ALE)

 79. Association of Administrators and Professionals and Seniors (AAPS)

 80. Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC)

 81. Babae Para sa Kaunlaran (BABAE KA)

 82. Bago National Cultural Society of the Philippines (BAGO)

 83. Bagong Bayan na nagtataguyod ng Demokratikong Ideolohiya at Layunin (BANDILA)

 84. Bagong Henerasyon (BH)

 85. Barangay Association for National Advancement and Transparency (BANAT)

 86. Bayan Muna

 87. Bayani

 88. Batang Iwas sa Droga Foundation (BIDA)

 89. Bigkis Pinoy Movement (BIGKIS)

 90. Binhi-Partido ng mga Magsasaka Para sa mga Magsasaka (BINHI)

 91. Biyaheng Pinoy Labor Association (Biyaheng Pinoy)

 92. Biyayang Bukid

 93. Buhay Hayaan Yumabong (Buhay)

 94. Butil Farmers Party (Butil)

 95. Champions for Innovative Employment (CHINOY)

 96. Citizen Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC)

 97. Citizen Power Movement (CPM)

 98. Coalition of Associations of Senior Citizens in the Country (SENIOR CITIZENS)

 99. Cocofed-Philippine Coconut Producers Federation (COCOFED)

 100. Coconut Farmers Association of Linamon Lanao del Sur (COFA)

 101. Confederation of Nonstock Savings and Loan Association Inc. (CONSLA)

 102. Cooperative Natcco Network (COOP-NATCCO)

 103. Democratic Independent Workers’ Association (DIWA)

 104. Filipino Muslim Organization (FIL-MUS)

 105. Firm 24-K Association (FIRM 24-K)

 106. First People’s Representative for Indigent Student Athletes (1ST PRISA)

 107. Gabriella Women’s Party-List (GABRIELLA)

 108. Green Force for the Environment Sons and Daughters of the Mother Earth

 109. Itenerant Vendors Alliance of the Philippines (IVAP)

 110. Kababaihang Lingkod Bayan sa Pilipinas (KLBP)

 111. Kabalikat ng Mamamayan (KABAYAN)

 112. Kabataan party-list

 113. Kabukluran ng mga Kababaihang Filipina sa Timog Katagalugan (BUKLOD FILIPINA)

 114. Kalahi Sectoral Party (KALAHI)

 115. Kalinga Advocacy for Social Empowerment and Nation-Building Through Easing Poverty (KALINGA)

 116. Kapatiran ng mga Nakakulong na Walang Sala (KAKUSA)

 117. Kasangga sa Kaunlaran (ANG KASANGGA)

 118. Kasosyo Producer-Consumer Exchange Association (AA-KASOSYO PARTY)

 119. Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan All Filipino Democratic Movement (KAAKBAY)

 120. Katribu Indigenous Peoples’ Sectoral Party (KATRIBU)

 121. Kaunlaran ng Agrikultura Asensadong Bayan Probinsiya Angat ng Bayan (KAAGAPAY)

 122. Koalisyon ng Katutubong Samahan ng Pilipinas (KASAPI)

 123. One Advocacy for Health Progress and Opportunity (1-AHAPO)

 124. Organization of Regional Advocates for Good Governance Onward Nation Building (ORAGON)

 125. Pamilyang OFW-SME Network Foundation (OPO)

 126. Parents Enabling Parents Coalition (PEP)

 127. Partido Katutubong Pilipino (KATUTUBO)

 128. Partido Manggagawa (PM)

 129. Pilipimo Association for Country – Urban Poor Youth Advancement and Welfare (PACYAW)

 130. Pro-active in Climate Change Leaders (PCL)

 131. Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA)

 132. Social Movement for Active Reform and Transparency (SMART)

 133. Sulong Barangay Movement (SB)

 134. The True Marcos Loyalist (For God, Country and People) Association of the Phils. (BANTAY)

 135. Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)

 136. Una ang Pamilya (1 ANG PAMILYA), which is formerly Alliance of Neo-Conservatives (ANC)

 137. United Movement Against Drugs Foundation (UNI-MAD)

 138. United Transport Koalisyon (1-UTAK)

 139. Vendors and Traders of the Philippines

 140. Veterans Freedom Party (VFP)

 141. Women Power (WPI)

 142. Yes We Can

 143. You Against Corruption and Poverty (YACAP)

 144. Youth Leagues for Peace Advancement (LYPAD)