Comelec sees new party-list law

MANILA, Philippines - Amid the controversy over the coming party-list elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) sees a new and better party-list law.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said they expect the ongoing purging of the list of party-list groups participating in the coming elections to bring about the necessary change.

Sarmiento believes recent controversies are enough reason for lawmakers to finally amend the 17-year-old Republic Act 7941.

“With the party-list issue, we have a resolution numbered 9366. Had we not done some cleansing, I doubt if it will become an issue,” Sarmiento said.

Comelec Resolution 9366 provides for the guidelines in approving or disapproving party-list groups.

So far, the Comelec has disqualified 79 party-list groups for the May 2013 polls. Forty-seven were cancelled of their accreditation while 32 were denied of registration as a party-list.

Of the 47, Ako Bicol (AKB), Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC), 1st Consumer’s Alliance for Rural Energy Inc. (1-CARE), Alliance for Rural Concerns (ARC), Aksyon Magsasaka-Partido Tinig ng Masa (AKMA-PTM), Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala Inc. (KAKUSA), Alliance for Rural and Agrarian Reconstruction Inc. (ARARO), and Association for Righteousness Advocacy on Leadership (ARAL) have all appealed their disqualification to the Supreme Court (SC).

Yesterday, Sarmiento also welcomed the  recent approval of the separate bills on early media voting and creation of special polling places for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

“To me, these are blessings in disguise... We realized it’s possible that we become innovative then Congress will follow,” said Sarmiento. “Otherwise, this issue would not have been given attention.”