THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has cancelled the registration of 42 party-list organizations, effectively making them ineligible to participate in the May 2025 midterm elections.
In its Resolution No. 11071, the Commission en banc said the accreditation of the 42 groups were cancelled for their failure to participate in the last two elections, or their failure to obtain a seat allocation for the party-list system in the last two elections.
Of the total, 11 party-list groups, organizations, and coalitions were delisted due to their failure to participate in the last two preceding elections.
These are 1-ABAA, Abyan Ilonggo, Akin, Alon, Amana, Ang PDR, Clase, KGB, Melchora, NACTODAP, and PDDS.
On the other hand, the 31 other party-list groups were delisted after failing to obtain at least two percent of the votes cast for the party-list system and for failing to obtain a seat in the second round of seat allocation for the party-list system in the last two preceding elections.
These are 1-Care, Abeka, ACTS-OFW, Ako Bisdak, Akma-PTM, AP, Anakpawis, Ang Kabuhayan, ALIF, ANAC-IP, Angkla, ABS, Aasenso, Abante Pilipinas, Butil, Kabalikat, Maypagasa, Koop-Kampi, Ayuda Sandugo, Kontra Brownout, Marvelous Tayo, 1 UTAP Bicol, PTA, PLM, Peace, PRAI, PPP, Buklod Pilipino, 1-Ang Edukasyon, Wow Pilipinas, and Yacap.
The Comelec said the delisting is based on the list provided by the Office of the Clerk of the Commission.
Under the Party-List System Act, the Comelec may, motu proprio or upon verified complaint of any interested party, cancel, after due notice and hearing, the registration of any national, regional, or sectoral party, organization, or coalition for failure to participate in the last two preceding elections, or failure to obtain at least two percent of the votes cast under the party-list system in the two preceding elections.
160 PLs IN BALLOTS
Garcia yesterday said 160 party-list groups will be included in the official ballots for the May 2025 polls.
He said the number includes 117 existing party-list organizations, one with an existing temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court, and 42 newly-accredited organizations.
He said the groups have been notified of their inclusion in the ballots.
Garcia said the number is lower than the 177 party-list groups that participated in the May 2022 elections.
The Comelec has yet to release the names of the party-list organizations.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court yesterday issued a temporary restraining order against the implementation of the Comelec rule allowing public appointive officials to continue holding office even after being nominated as party-list representatives.
A briefer issued by the High Court’s Public Information Office said: “The Court granted the prayer for Temporary Restraining Order, effective immediately. Comelec is enjoined from implementing Section 11 of its Resolution No. 11045. All parties are required to observe the status quo that public appointive officials are deemed resigned upon filing of their certificate of candidacy.”
The petition was filed by veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal.
The decision was reached by the magistrates during their regular en banc session on Tuesday.
Aside from issuing the TRO, the SC also required the poll body to comment on the petition “within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice.”
Garcia welcomed the SC order, saying: “As we said before, we support the filing of the petition to the extent of hopefully clarifying certain gray areas in the law and existing jurisprudence.”
As a result of the TRO, Garcia said all appointive officials whose names will be included in the list of party-list nominees will now be automatically deemed resigned.
“They are deemed resigned upon the filing of CON-CAN. If there are any appointive officials among the 15 party-lists who filed today, they are deemed resigned because of the TRO of the SC,” he said. — With Ashzel Hachero
