Comelec to proclaim 11 more party-lists

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) may be able to proclaim next week 11 more party-list groups whose proclamation had been deferred due to pending disqualification cases.

“Hopefully by next week we can proclaim (them). Maybe on Monday or Tuesday, we can come up with a decision,” Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said in an interview.

The proclamation of the 11 groups had been withheld by the poll body due to pending disqualification cases lodged either against the groups or their nominees.

These groups are the topnotcher Ako Bicol; Buhay Hayaan Yumabong (BUHAY); 1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy (1-CARE); Citizens' Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC); LPG Marketers Association, Inc. (LPGMA); Ang Asosayon Sang Manguguma Nga Bisaya-Ow Mangunguma, Inc. (AAMBIS-OWA); Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC);

Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD); 1-UTAK; Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment Through Action Cooperation and Harmony Towards Educational Reforms (A Teacher); and Butil Farmer Party (BUTIL).

Sarmiento said that personally, he thinks that if the disqualification cases involve the nominees, their party-list groups could be proclaimed. But while the cases are still pending, the nominees would not be recognized yet by the Comelec.

“We can proclaim the party-list organization but hold in abeyance the nominees because of the petitions,” he added.

Last May 31, the Comelec had proclaimed 28 groups that will occupy 35 of the 57 seats allocated for them in the House of Representatives under the party-list system.

Sarmiento also clarified that Partido Katutubo is not among the party-list groups that won in the May 10 polls.

Earlier, The STAR wrongly reported that Partido Katutubo had captured two percent of the votes cast for party-list groups, thus, winning in the election.

Sarmiento said two percent is equivalent to 1.2 million votes and Partido Katutubo only bagged some 70,000 votes.