Comelec inclined to proclaim 17 party-list groups this week

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expected to proclaim 17 more winning party-list organizations.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said with this development 50 out of the 57 seats in the House of Representatives will be occupied soon, after the Comelec earlier proclaimed 28 party-list organizations that won 33 seats.     

“We want to add more to the names already mentioned, party-list organizations to be proclaimed. So hopefully, within the week, we will add more,” said Sarmiento.

Sarmiento said the proclamation of the last seven winners would have to be withheld pending the results of the special elections in Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Western Samar and Malolos City, Bulacan.

The votes from these areas could determine which groups would occupy the last seven slots in the House.

“We cannot include the tail-enders because of the gap or margin, which is 5,000 or 10,000. This is still uncertain because we still have special elections... (the standing) might still change,” he added.

Among the groups that have not yet been proclaimed due to the pending disqualification cases filed either against the group or their nominee are: Ako Bicol Political Party; Buhay Hayaan Yumabong; 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. (MBIS-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).