33 previously disqualified party-list groups to be included in ballots

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday reported that the 33 party-list groups that the poll body had earlier disqualified would still be included in the official ballots for the coming May 2013 elections.

Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the Comelec was left with no choice but to include the previously disqualified groups in the official ballot because of the status quo order of the Supreme Court (SC). 

“All the 83 we approved plus those with status quo ante orders (SQAOs), we will include them in the raffle,” Brillantes said, referring to the raffle the Comelec will conduct to determine the slot of the party-list in the official ballot.

He said the commission might still seek clarification on how to handle the new applicants that were denied accreditation but were still able to secure SQAOs from the SC.

“For new applicants with SQAOs, they are not yet approved so they should remain applicants. We will seek clarification because it might be misinterpreted by the SC,” Brillantes explained.

Some 33 groups that the Comelec had disqualified were able to secure reprieves from the SC. However, the court failed to clarify in their last session whether these organizations would be allowed to participate in the coming elections.

The groups with existing accreditation but which got cancelled were Friends of Imelda Romualdez Marcos (FIRM 24K); Atong Paglaum; Aangat Tayo; Abang Lingkod; Alliance of Bicolnon (ABP-Bicolnon); A Blessed Federation of Farmers and Fishermen International Inc. (A Blessed); 1-AANI; United Movement Against Drugs Foundation Inc. (Unimad); Bayani; Action League of Indigenous Masses (ALIM); Butil Farmers (Butil); Alliance of Advocates in Mining Advancement for National Progress (AAMA); Social Movement for Active Reform and Transparency (SMART); Adhikain at Kilusan ng Ordinaryong Tao Para sa Lupa, Hanapbuhay at Kaunlaran (Ako Bahay); 1 Guardians Nationalist of the Philippines Inc. (1Ganap Guardians); and Green Force.

The groups with SQAOs are previously registered party-list organizations that include Ako Bicol (AKB); Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC); 1st Consumer’s Alliance for Rural Energy Inc. (1CARE); 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); Association for Righteousness Advocacy on Leadership (ARAL); Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Anad); Philippine Guardian Brotherhood Inc. (1Bro-PGBI); Agapay ng Indigenous Peoples Rights Alliance Inc. (A-IPRA); Bantay; Agri-Agra na Reporma Para sa Magsasaka ng Pilipinas Movement (Agri); Action Brotherhood for Active Dreamers Inc. (Abroad); and Coconut Producers Federation (Cocofed).

The Comelec earlier denied the accreditation of Kaagapay ng Nagkakaisang Aguilang Pilipinong Magsasaka (KAP); and Alab ng Mamamahayag (ALAB).

Brillantes said the commission decided to move to Jan. 4 the schedule of raffle for the listing of the party-list groups in the official ballot to ensure that there would be no more SQAOs from the SC.

He noted that even though there are no more SC full-court sessions, the Chief Justice can still issue SQAOs.

“We have to get the final number for the raffle. Anyway, our configuration for the ballots will not start until January 7. We pushed it to the limit,” explained Brillantes.