Only 111 of 123 party-list groups on ballot accredited

MANILA, Philippines - Three more party-list groups have been allowed to run in the elections on Monday.

They are 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-UTAK), Pilipino Association for Country-Urban Poor Youth Advancement and Welfare (PACYAW), and Pasang Masda Nationwide Party (PASANG MASDA).

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said of the 123 party-list groups in the official ballots, only 111 are official candidates.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. told reporters the  party-list groups have met the parameters that  the Supreme Court (SC) had set.

“This will be the last (batch),” he said. 

“The party-list is now complete, 111. Although there are 123 groups on the ballots, we took out the 12 groups.”

The 12 are among the 52 disqualified party-list groups that the SC) had remanded to the Comelec.

The poll body had decided not to reinstate them after a deliberation.

Brillantes said the 12 party-list groups could still campaign because if they win, they might “prevail at the SC and we will proclaim them.”

 â€œI’m not saying (that they cannot be voted for) so they should still campaign if they want to take the risk,” he said.

“If they win, of course, they can still go up to the SC.”

The 12 party-list groups 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). 

135 for Buhay

Party-list Buhay Hayaan Yumabong (Buhay)’s number in the ballot is 135, which could also mean 13-5 or the election date 13th of May.

Buhay president Mel Robles said yesterday that being the second to the last in the list has them at a disadvantage because many voters, especially the undecided have limited patience to scroll down all the names of the 136 party-list groups.

Last Saturday, during a radio interview in Naga City, the “revelation” came to him that the number 135 also means the date of the election 13-5 or 13-May, he added.

Robles said  since the Comelec assigned the number 135 to them, he has been looking for ways how to maximize the number to promote their party-list group. – With Evelyn Macairan