Comelec accredits 13 new party-list groups

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday allowed 13 new party-list groups to participate in the 2013 midterm elections.

Comelec Commissioner Sixtor Brillantes Jr. said the poll body approved the accreditation of the party-list groups Piston Land Transport Coalition (Piston), Aagapay sa Matatanda (Ama), Ating Agapay Sentrong Samahan ng mga Obrero Inc. (Aasenso). He did not reveal the names of the 10 other groups.

“We were unanimous on the first three groups but there were dissenting voices in the other 10 so I’m not going to name them yet,” Brillantes said in an interview.

Meanwhile, activists on Friday picketed the Comelec to protest its decision to disqualify the Courage and Kalikasan party-list groups from running in the 2013 elections.

Vencer Crisostomo, chair of the youth group Anakbayan, said the two party-list groups may have been disqualified because of their vocal opposition to the Aquino administration policies. He warned that Comelec might be favoring Akbayan, another activist group which has closer ties with the government.

“(Courage and Kalikasan) have been vocal against Aquino’s policies, which may have cost them their accreditation,” Crisostomo said in a statement.

He said Courage, which represents rank-and-file government employees, has been pressing for an increase in the salaries for public employees while Kalikasan was at the forefront of the fight to save the pine trees in Baguio City and against Mr. Aquino’s mining policy.

Crisostomo complained that the Brillantes invoked the Supreme Court ruling on “government-backed entities” for Courage but is apparently not applying the same for Akbayan.

“The issue against Akbayan is not about its being a multi-sectoral party or its track record but that it is entrenched in government. We are afraid they are deliberately confusing the public to cover up a pro-Malacañang decision,” Crisostomo said.

He added that the fact that Comelec did not announce the result of the voting immediately and made it seem that they are “divided” on the issue may be a sign that it is paving the way for a decision favoring the Palace.

“I am hoping I am wrong. But if this is the case, then all these efforts are to give further advantage to Aquino’s Akbayan. This will clearly show Comelec’s lack of integrity and credibility,” Crisostomo said.

Talking to reporters, Brillantes claimed the poll body was indeed divided on the disqualification case filed against Akbayan.

“We couldn’t agree about it. We’re still divided. The vote is close,” he said.

“The debate has been long. First (the voting) was 5-2, and then it became 4-3, so what we decided was maybe we can come out with individual opinions. I told them to seal it and I will count them,” he said.

“I cannot announce the results until I have all the signed opinions, adding: “The voting might change again.”

As of Friday, Brillantes said no one had submitted their signed opinions.

He said the discussions involved comparisons between Akbayan and Ako Bikol, which had been disqualified, and Bayan Muna.

“The final voting is when we write it down and sign it,” he said.

The Comelec is reviewing the qualifications of more than 100 existing and new party-list groups.