1-Utak proclaimed, but Reyes can't take seat

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has finally proclaimed controversial party-list 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-Utak) of former energy secretary Angelo Reyes, but barred him from assuming his seat because of a pending disqualification case.

Aside from 1-Utak, the other groups proclaimed were the Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment Through Action, Cooperation and Harmony Towards Educational Reforms (A-Teacher) and the Butil Farmers Party (Butil).

There are now 36 occupied party-list seats in the House of Representatives.

In a two-page resolution, the Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), said the three groups each won a seat in the House by bagging two percent of the 1.2 million votes cast for party-list groups last May 10.

The NBOC said A Teacher got 614,725 votes; BUTIL, 506,703; and 1-UTAK 220,002.

Last May 31, the Comelec announced a total of 26 party-list organizations won House seats. The proclamation of 1-Utak, A-Teacher and Butil, however, was deferred due to pending disqualification cases either against them or their nominees.

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, former Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza and Ang Bayan moved for the disqualification of Reyes, insisting that he does not belong to the transportation sector that 1-Utak claims to represent.

The Comelec has yet to resolve the cases but has decided to proceed with the proclamation since the petitions concern the nominees and not the party-list groups themselves.

“The issue of disqualification of party-list nominees does not pertain to the qualification of an organization to participate in the party-list system of representation and should, therefore, not affect the entitlement of party-list organization to guaranteed additional seats,” NBOC Resolution 10-025 read.

The nominee of A-Teacher is Mariano Piamonte, former president of the Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines. Butil had submitted two sets of nominees and Comelec has yet to decide which of them should be recognized.

Under the Party List System Act, party-list groups should occupy 20 percent or 57 House seats.

The eight organizations with pending cases before the Comelec are the topnotcher Ako Bicol Political Party (AKO BICOL), Buhay Hayaan Yumabong (BUHAY), First Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy (1-CARE), Citizen’s Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC), LPG Marketers Association Inc. (LPGMA), Ang Asosasyon Sang Mangunguma Nga Bisaya-Owa Mangunguma, Inc. (MBIS-OWA), Association Of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC), and Alliance For Nationalism And Democracy (ANAD).