SIXTY-TWO new representatives from 55 party-list groups that got the most votes last May 9 were proclaimed yesterday by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Forum Tent in Pasay City.
In a formal ceremony, the NBOC proclaimed the top 55 party-list groups, with 62 out of the 63 allocated seats in the House of Representatives filled up.
The ACT-CIS party-list emerged as the top vote-getter with 2,111,091 votes and got three seats.
Getting two seats each were 1-Rider Partylist, Tingog, 4Ps, Ako Bicol, and Sagip.
The remaining 49 groups, which got one seat each, were Ang Probinsyano, Uswag Ilonggo, Tutok to Win, Cibac, Senior Citizens, Duterte Youth, Agimat, Kabataan, Angat, Marino, Ako Bisaya, Probinsyano Ako, LPGMA, API, Gabriella, CWS, Agri, P3PWD, Ako Ilocano Ako, Kusug Tausug, An Waray, Kalinga, Agap, Coop-Natco, Malasakit@Bayanihan, BHW, GP Party, BH, Act Teachers, TGP, Bicol Saro, Dumper PTDA, Pinuno, Abang Lingkod, PBA, OFW, Abono, Anakalusugan, Kabayan, Magsasaka, 1 Pacman, APEC, Pusong Pinoy, TUCP, Patrol, Manila Teachers, AAMBIS-OWA, Philreca, and Alona.
The proclaimed party-list groups and nominees would have been 56 and 63, respectively, but the United Senior Citizen’s party-list still has a pending appeal for its petition for registration.
“Whereas, as per the tabulated National Tally Sheet (Report No. 8), United Senior Citizen’s party-list has garnered enough votes to entitle it to one seat, but it shall not be included among those to be proclaimed as winning party-list groups pending resolution of its Motion for Reconsideration of the denial of its registration,” the NBOC said.
Last Wednesday, the NBOC completed the canvassing of all 173 Certificates of Canvass (COCs), including one from Lanao del Sur.
The NBOC said the 1,991 overseas votes from Shanghai, China, where voting remains suspended, will no longer affect the results of the party-list race.
During the proclamation ceremony, members of the Comelec en Banc took turns in handing out the Certificates of Proclamation to the representatives of the winning groups.
The party-list representatives came in their traditional Filipino attire.
COMELEC APPEAL
The Comelec called on lawmakers anew to consider amending the 27-year “Party-List System Act” that has been the subject of recent questions and criticisms.
In a press briefing, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said they believe it may be time to initiate reforms on Republic Act. No. 7941 or the Party-List System Act.
“Maybe, it is high time that our Congress will consider making changes in the RA 7941,” said Garcia.
In particular, he said he is hoping the reforms will include the necessary formula in computing the seat allocation for winning party-lists.
“The law didn’t provide the formula. The Comelec should already know how to compute the seats,” he said, adding the present formula being used for seat allocation was based on the decision provided by the Supreme Court in the Banat versus Comelec case.
“The Supreme Court will always interpret the law. But what if there is no formula in the law? It had no choice. So the SC offered a formula,” said Garcia.
He said they are issuing the call after receiving a handful of petitions asking the Comelec to abandon the “Banat” formula or amend the manner of computing the seat allocation.
“We have received petitions asking us to abandon the Banat formula or adopt the dissenting opinion of that decision,” said Garcia.
Under RA 7941, the Comelec shall tally all the votes for the party-list betss, rank them, and allocate seats “proportionately” according to the percentage of votes obtained by each group.
