Comelec allows health workers’ group to join party list race

Inquirer files

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has allowed an organization of health workers to run for party list seats in the midterm elections next year, citing a need for medical front-liners to be represented in Congress.

The poll body granted the appeal of the Health Workers Party list (HWP) after initially dismissing its petition for registration because of a technical defect in its submitted documents.

‘They are our front-liners’

“Considering the various issues affecting health workers and the need for their representation in the legislature, the denial of registration of the petitioner will minimize, if not, divest, the health workers’ chance of representation,” the Comelec en banc said in its resolution issued on Monday.

In an interview in Makati City, Comelec Chair George Garcia said the agency reversed its decision “because they (HWP) were able to complete the documentation we are looking for.”

“They are our front-liners. It is good that they are given a chance to participate in the elections, and, if they are fortunate, to be a member of Congress. In the end, it is the people who will decide which party lists will have seats [in the House of Representatives],” he told reporters.

First hurdle passed

In a statement, HWP welcomed the Comelec resolution as “a very positive development for the health workers.”

“With the first hurdle passed, health workers now have the opportunity to reach out to the electorate and explain our platform for the health workers and people’s health,” the group said.

Local chapters

“We have no goons, guns, and gold, but we have our principles and platform, our unity, and our unlimited commitment to serve the people,” it added.

On its Facebook page, HWP calls itself “the voice of health workers” that “promotes the rights and welfare of health workers and the Filipino people’s right to health.”

The group has established chapters in 11 cities across Metro Manila. Its president is Dr. Benigno Santi II, dean of the Capitol Medical Center Colleges’ College of Radiologic Technology.

Under the law, aspiring party-list groups need at least 2 percent of the total votes cast to secure one House seat.

According to Garcia, HWP was among the 41 groups included in Comelec’s official list of accredited party-list groups for the 2025 national and local elections—fewer than nearly 70 organizations accredited in 2022.

Growing rejected list

At least 142 applicants have been disapproved as of Monday, with Garcia saying more would be added to the rejected list once the Comelec has resolved all appeals.

“[We] want to ensure that these party lists will truly represent the marginalized and the underrepresented,” the poll chief said.

Most of the rejected groups do not have a constitution or a set of bylaws, a main requirement, while others failed to submit a list of the members who support the group’s decision to join the party list race, he said.

“Sometimes the group had the wrong signatory. Or worse, we learned that they submitted fake documents. One even submitted photos of their supposed project only [for us to discover] that it was a project of another organization,” Garcia said.