Comelec delists 39 party-list groups

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has delisted and canceled the registration of 39 party-list groups.

In Comelec Resolution No. 10696 released on Friday, it said the organizations or coalitions under the party-list system, that failed to participate in the last two elections or failed to obtain at least 2 percent of the votes cast in the last two preceding polls will be delisted from the list of party-list groups.

The poll body said the names of the groups were listed on its website www.comelec.gov.ph on February 5, 2021, and was public in two major newspapers on February 6, 2021.

The coalitions that have been delisted were 1-AANI (Usa An Aton Nahigugma Nga Iroy Nga Tuna); 1-AAMOVER (1-A Action Moral & Values Recovery Reform of the Philippines, Inc.); 1-AHAPO (One Bagong Ahapo ng Pilipinas Party-List); ABAKADA (Abakada Guro); ABAMIN (Abante Mindanao, Inc.); ADING (Advance Community Development in New Generation); AG (Ang Galing Pinoy); AKO AN BISAYA (Ako An Bisaya); ALAGAD (Alagad Party-List); ALAY BUHAY (Alay Buhay Community Development Foundation, Inc.); ALL-FISH (Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federation Inc.); ANAD (Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy); AMEPA OFW (Amepa OFW Access Center, Inc.).

Also in the list were: ANG NARS (Ang Nars, Inc.); ANG PAMILYA (Una Ang Pamilya); ANUPA (Alliance of National Urban Poor Organizations Assembly, Inc.); APPEND (Append, Inc.); ASEAN (Academicians, Students and Educators Alliance, Inc.); ATING KOOP (Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba); AVE (Alliance of Volunteer Educators); AWAKE (Awareness of Non-Stock Savings and Loan Associations, Inc.); FICTAP (Federation of International Cable TV and Telecommunications Associations of the Philippines); GLOBAL (Global Workers and Family Federation, Inc.); ITO ANG TAMA (Tanggol Maralita, Inc.)

Completing the list were: KAKUSA (Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala, Inc.); KALIKASAN PARTY-LIST (Kalikasan Partylist); KAMAIS (Kapatirang Magmamais ng Pilipinas Inc.); KMM (Kaisahan ng mga Maliliit na Magsasaka); METRO (Movement for Economic Transformation and Righteous Opportunities); PBB (Partido Bayan ang Bida); PM (Partido Manggagawa); SAMAKO (Sandigan ng mga Manggagawa sa Konstruksyon); SINAG (Sinag Tungo sa Kaunlaran); TAO MUNA (Ang Tao Muna at Bayan); TINDERONG PINOY (TINDERONG Pinoy Party); TRICAP (Tribal Communities Association of the Philippines); UNIDO (Union of Nationalist Democratic Filipino Organization).

“Whereas, the Commission may, motu proprio or upon verified complaint of any interested party, refuse, or cancel, after due notice and hearing, the registration of any national, regional or sectoral party, organization, or coalitions for failure to participate in the last two (2) preceding elections or fails to obtain at least two per centrum (2 percent) of the votes cast under the party-list system in the two preceding elections for the constituency on which it was registered pursuant to Section 2 (I), Rule 2, of the Resolution No. 9366 in relations to Section 6 (8) of Republic Act No. 7941 or ‘Party-List System Act,’” the Resolution said which was promulgated on February 17, 2021.

Section 6 (8) states that two separate grounds for delisting, and these grounds cannot be mixed or combined to support delisting. This include party-list groups that failed to obtain at least 2 percent of the votes cast for the party-list systems, and those that failed to obtain seat allocation for the party-list system in the last two preceding elections.

On the other hand, the Comelec said the “Resolution is without prejudice to the failure to file a Manifestation of Intent to Participate of retained party-list groups, or organizations and to the filing of any Petitions for cancellation or disqualification against any party, organization, or coalition and/or its nominees for the May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections.