MANILA – After announcing the dominant majority and minority parties, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has named eight major political parties and six major local parties for the May 9 national and local polls.
According to Comelec Resolution No. 10094, the eight major political parties are: the Nationalist Party (NP), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), Aksyon Demokratiko, and National Unity Party (NUP).
The six major local parties are Kuso Baryohanon (KB) for Davao del Norte; United Negros Alliance (UNEGA) for Negros Occidental; Partido Abe Kapampangan (PAK) for Angeles City; Arangkada San Joseno (ASJ) for San Jose del Monte City; Achievement with Integrity Movement (AIM) for General Santos City; and Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran (KABAKA) for the National Capital Region (NCR).
As the major national parties, the eight groups are entitled to get the 9th to 16th copies of election returns (ERs) in every polling precincts, as well as 9th to 16th copies of all Certificates of Canvass (COCs), and can deploy official watchers in every polling place and canvassing centres.
On the other hand, the accredited major local parties will get the 19th and 20th copies of the ERs and COCs in their respective provinces or region.
Earlier, the Comelec announced that the Liberal Party (LP) and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) were the dominant majority and minority parties, respectively.
The criteria used by the Comelec in coming up with the major parties include the established record of showing in past elections; number of incumbent elective officials; identifiable political organizations and strengths as seen in their organized chapters; ability to field a complete slate of candidates from the local to national positions; and other analogous circumstances.