Comelec chief vows fewer party-lists in 2013 polls

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — There will be fewer party-lists vying for seats in the House of Representatives next year, Commission on Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said on Wednesday.

Although he could not yet estimate how many partylist groups will qualify for the 2013 midterm elections, Brillantes said that the number will be less than 2010’s 184 party-lists.

“It will definitely be lower than the number accredited in 2010 which is 184…,” the Comelec chairman told reporters at the sidelines of the budget deliberations.

“We’re studying carefully each group. The main issue is whether they fall under the marginalized sector,” he said.

He said the poll body has wrapped up with its hearings and the commissioners are now preparing to decide which groups will qualify for the midterm polls.

The decision will come out by the end of September, before the filing of certificates of candidacy starts on October 1.

For party-lists eyeing two nominees for the next polls, Brillantes warned that the law does not permit such an arrangement.

“If there two sets of nominees, the law will not allow this. They have to settle among themselves or we will settle it for them,” he said.