THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS (Comelec) has rejected the bids of Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and Courage to be accredited as party-list groups and join in the 2010 elections, citing lack of constituency.

In two separate resolutions, First Division Commissioners Rene Sarmiento, Armando Velasco, and Gregorio Larrazabal said the two organizations had failed to prove that they have presence in majority of the regions.

The Comelec also noted that Courage, a group that represents government employees, failed to submit a copy of its Article of Intent. As such, it was not able to prove that it represents a ?marginalized and under-represented sector,? the Comelec said.

ACT president Antonio Tinio slammed the Comelec for rejecting their petition for party-list registration. ?Of course, we exist. We have members in the whole country. We are calling on our members to appear before their local Comelec offices to prove that ACT exists,? he said.

The 15,000-strong organization, he noted, will appeal the Comelec decision.

While ACT and other rejected party-list groups appeal, the Comelec yesterday started to accept manifestations of intent from qualified party-list groups.

As of 2:30 p.m., the commission secretariat said it had already received 13 manifestations to participate in the party-list race in the 2010 national elections, including two from Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac), Biyayang Bukid and Anak Mindanao (Amin) Party-list.

Other groups that filed their intents were 1-Utak, Buhay, Ako, An Waray, 1-Araw, Abakada and Aba Ilonggo.