PROMPTED by a directive from the House of Representatives, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to rule on the proclamation of a new party-list organization that shall take the place vacated by the “An Waray” in the 19th Congress.

In an interview, Comelec chairman George Garcia said the Commission en banc is set to discuss today the possible proclamation of the party-list next in line based on the results of the May 2022 polls.

“We received a letter from the House of Representatives asking us who is the next party-list after the removal of An Waray party-list. They also want to know who is the nominee of the next party-list,” said Garcia.

“The Commission en banc will immediately discuss this so we can give a response to the House of Representatives,” he said.

The poll chief said such an action is a standard procedure whenever there are vacancies in the House of Representatives, such as party-list seats.

Voting 14-1, the Supreme Court earlier upheld the decision of the Comelec to cancel An Waray’s registration as a party-list organization.

This after An Waray nominee, Victoria Isabel Noel, was found to have illegally assumed office as second representative of the party-list in the 16th Congress sans a Certificate of Proclamation issued after the 2013 polls.

During the May 2022 polls, An Waray ranked 27th in the party-list race after getting 385,460 votes.

On the other hand, the Akbayan party-list ranked 57th after accumulating 236,226 votes in the last elections.

In a statement, Akbayan yesterday urged the poll body anew to immediately proclaim their group as a winning party-list in the last elections.

“With the House of Representatives confirming the vacant seat and formally requesting Comelec to fill the position, Akbayan’s anticipated return to Congress is now certain,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Comelec has given the green light for the accreditation of the Health Workers Party-List, thereby allowing the group to participate in the forthcoming May 2025 polls.

In its four-page resolution, the Comelec en banc reversed its previous decision to dismiss the bid of the party-list group to be a registered party-list organization

“The Commission hereby resolves to grant the Motion for Reconsideration of Health Workers Party-List. Accordingly, the Resolution promulgated by the Commission dated 22 August 2024 is hereby reconsidered and set aside,” said the Comelec in the resolution dated September 23.

“Health Workers Party-List is hereby registered and accredited as a sectoral organization, and is hereby allowed to participate under the Party-List System of Representation in the 12 May 2025 National and Local Elections,” it said.