MANILA, Philippines ? A group of chicken farmers and cock breeders has ruffled the feathers of Alyansa ng Sabungero (Ang Sabungero), a cockfighters? organization seeking to join the party-list race in the 2010 elections.

Ang Sabungero filed a petition before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against the Adhikain ng Magmamanok, insinuating that the Magmamanok is insincere in its pledge to help those in the cockfighting industry.

Both poultry-related organizations have asked the Comelec to accredit them as party-list groups so they can run in next year?s election.

Ang Sabungero, according to its petition, is headed by a certain Nid Anima. It is based in Parañaque City and seeks to represent the workers in the cockfighting sector.

To circumvent law

Adhikain ng Magmamanok, on the other hand, is headed by former Compostela Valley Rep. Manuel ?Way Kurat? Zamora and aims to represent the poultry and cockfighting industries.

Ang Sabungero, however, claimed that Adhikain ng Magmamanok was simply a vehicle for Zamora to remain a congressman, as he is on his third consecutive term which ends next year.

According to the Constitution, congressmen can only serve a maximum of three consecutive terms.

?In trying to get the Adhikain ng Magmamanok accredited and registered with the Comelec, Rep. Manuel Zamora probably caters to the notion that the party-list provides him a convenient avenue to circumvent the law,? Ang Sabungero said in its petition.

Chicken run

Ang Sabungero noted that Adhikain ng Magmamanok impinges on the former?s advocacy, which is to represent the ?marginalized component of the cockfight? industry.

Ang Sabungero stressed that having two similar groups might confuse voters into thinking that ?Magmamanok is an alternative for Sabungero.?

Swamped with petitions

Adhikain ng Magmamanok and Ang Sabungero are just two of over 300 organizations that have applied for accreditation to the Comelec.

The Comelec aims to finish all the petitions by October, which is no easy task as the poll body hears over a dozen party-list petitions a day.

According to Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, the poll body has been swamped with petitions. Party-list hearings often finish late into the night.

?The other night, we finished at around 11 p.m. I felt so tired afterward,? Ferrer said.