Despite having no candidate for president or vice president, the administration Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) was declared the dominant majority party in the May 9 elections.
The Nacionalista Party, which also did not field candidates for the top two posts, was likewise unanimously declared by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) the dominant minority party.
With four days left before the elections, the poll body has still not decided which of two PDP-Laban factions to uphold: the one led by Energy Secretary Alfredo Cusi and allied with President Duterte or the faction led by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and presidential candidate Sen. Manny Pacquiao.
The PDP-Laban leadership question has been pending with the Comelec since last August.As the dominant political parties, PDP-Laban and Nacionalista Party are entitled to two of the first eight copies of election returns printed by the vote counting machines while transmitting the results to the canvassing servers at the close of polls.
Their assigned poll watchers will be given preference if the space in polling precincts and canvassing centers are insufficient, said Comelec.
The poll body said the 10 other “major national” political parties that will receive the second batch of copies of election returns are the National Unity Party, Aksyon Demokratiko, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), Liberal Party, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, United Nationalist Alliance, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma and Akbayan Citizens Aksyon Party.
Criteria
The poll body ranked the 12 national political parties that applied to be recognized as the dominant parties based on five criteria: ability to field a complete slate; number of members who are incumbent officials; organizational structure; number of women candidates; and record from past elections.
Out of a maximum score of 50, PDP-Laban received a score of 37.64; Nacionalista Party, 34.67; Liberal Party, 33.97; Aksyon Demokratiko, 31.23; and Nationalist People’s Coalition, 30.18.
The unheard-of PFP serving as former Sen, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s presidential campaign vehicle ranked 10th with a score of 15.20.The Comelec also accredited all the 13 local political parties that had asked to be declared major local parties.
These are: Kabaka; Bileg Party; Asenso Manileño Movement; Partido Navoteño; Malayang Kilusan ng mga Mamamayang Zambaleño; Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod; Aksyon Agad Bulacan; Partido Siquijodnon; Asenso San Pedro; Unang Sigaw; Arangkada San Joseño; Kapanalig at Kambilan ning Memalen Pampanga; at Hugpong ng Pagbabago.