Comelec delists 62 party-list groups

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported that 62 party-list groups have been delisted and disqualified from participating in the 2013 midterm polls.

In Resolution No. 9412, the Comelec said these groups would be able to participate only in 2016 poll but they have to apply again for registration with the poll body.

The resolution showed that the groups were stricken off the list of accredited sectoral groups after they failed to obtain two percent of the votes cast for the party-list system in the two previous elections or were denied accreditation by the Comelec and Supreme Court “with finality.”

The 29 party-list groups that failed to obtain the sufficient votes were 1-AK, 1-TUBIG, AAPS, ABA ILONGGO, ABAY PARAK, ADD, ADD-TRIBAL, AHON, ALMANA, AMANG, ANAK, APO, APOI, ASAHAN MO, ATS, BABAE KA, BAGO, BANDILA, BIGKIS, BIYAHENG PINOY, BUKID, BUKLOD FILIPINA, KALAHI, KASAPI, LYPAD, PEP, PM (MANGGAGAWA), SB, and VENDORS PARTY LIST.

The 32 groups not accredited were: 1-NET, AASCA, ABBA-AMA, ABO, ACMA, ACTS, AK, AKAP, AKAP TAO, AKI, AKSI, ALNA, ALUM, ANG PADER, ANG SAMAKA, ANG TRABAHANTE, ANG TSINOY, APELA, AS, AVPAP, AWAT, BANGON TRANSPORT, BIDA (BINIGKIS), DAMAYAN, EMMANUEL, FFW, NCCP, SAGIP, UCAP, UFS, UNLAD PILIPINAS, and PFP.

The Comelec also excluded CPM in accordance to a 2010 resolution that denied its application for registration.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the agency intends to screen all candidates in the party-list system to eliminate organizations that are not qualified.

“Once you are delisted, you are suspended for one election. But they could file (new applications) in 2016. They cannot run in 2013,” Brillantes added.

The 62 groups are part of the 179 party-list groups that were previously listed in the Comelec.

The poll body said 172 organizations have pending applications for accreditation for party-list groups in the 2013 polls.