Party-list review: 24 in, 12 out

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has upheld its disqualification of 12 party-list groups and allowed 24 others to participate in Monday’s polls.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said they decided to uphold the disqualification of the 12, which are among the 39 groups whose cases were remanded to the poll body by the Supreme Court (SC).

“For those whose accreditation we cancelled, it is already clear that they won’t make it anymore,” he said.

A hearing on the case of the remaining three groups has been set for Thursday.

“Those that we approved, they already come into the parameters of the Supreme Court. Three are questionable because there was a tie in voting,” he said.

Commissioners Lucenito Tagle, Elias Yusoph, Christian Robert Lim and Grace Padaca voted 2-2 on the cases. He said they expect the cases of the three groups to be resolved when two new commissioners – Luie Guia and Al Parreño – join in the deliberation.

“They (new commissioners) were just requesting that there be a hearing so that they could also ask questions. So we set the hearing on Thursday,” he added.

The 12 groups disqualified are Agapay ng Indigenous Peoples Rights Alliance Inc. (A-IPRA), Abang Lingkod Party-List (ABANG LINGKOD), Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD), Ang Galing Pinoy (AG), Atong Paglaum Inc. (Atong Paglaum), Kaagapay ng Nagkakaisang Agilang Pilipinong Magsasaka (KAP), Coalition of Senior Citizens in the Philippines Inc. (SENIOR CITIZENS), Social Movement for Active Reform and Transparency (SMART), 1st Kabalikat ng Bayan Ginhawang Sangkatauhan (1st KABAGIS), The True Marcos Loyalist (for God, Country and People) Association of the Philippines Inc. (BANTAY), Philippine Coconut Producers Federation Inc. (COCOFED), and Binhi-Partido ng mga Magsasaka Para sa mga Magsasaka (BINHI).

Allowed to join the elections are 1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy, Inc. (1-CARE), Bayani Party List (BAYANI), Alliance of Advocates in Mining Advancement for National Progress (AAMA), Aksyon Magsasaka-Partido Tinig ng Masa (AKMA-PTM), AKO Bicol Political Party (AKB), Ang Agrikultura Natin Isulong (AANI), United Movement Against Drugs Foundation (UNIMAD), Action League of Indigenous Masses (ALIM), Firm 24-K Association, Inc. (FIRM 24-K), Association for Righteousness Advocacy on Leadership (ARAL), Butil Farmers Party (BUTIL); and Action Brotherhood for Active Dreamer Inc. (ABROAD).

The others are 1-Bro Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc. (1BRO-PGBI), Alliance for Rural Concerns (ARC), 1 Guardians Nationalist Philippines Inc. (1GANAP), Blessed Federation of Farmers and Fishermen International Inc. (A BLESSED), Alliance of Bicolnon Party (ABP), Alliance for Rural and Agrarian Reconstruction Inc. (ARARO), Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC), Adhikain at Kilusan ng Ordinaryong Tao Para sa Lupa, Pabahay, Hanapbuhay at Kaunlaran (AKO-BAHAY), Agri-Agra na Reporma Para sa Magsasaka ng Pilipinas Movement (AGRI), Aangat Tayo Party-List Party (AT), Green Force for the Environment Sons and Daughters of Mother Earth (GREENFORCE), and Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala Inc. (KAKUSA).

The Comelec is set to discuss the cases of three groups – 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-UTAK), Pilipino Association for Country-Urban Poor Youth Advancement and Welfare (PACYAW), and Pasang Masda Nationwide Party (PASANG MASDA).

Last April, the SC remanded the disqualification cases of the 52 party-list groups to the Comelec and then issued a new set of guidelines for their accreditation.