Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections has barred 12 party-list groups from participating in the 2013 midterm elections, Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. disclosed on Friday.
Brillantes said the Comelec en banc decided to deny the request for accreditation of the 12 groups, whose nominees include former Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Alma De Leon, former Transportation Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez and former Iloilo Rep. Rolex Suplico.
“This is an automatic review of the groups that passed in the division level. They were denied due to various reasons,” Brillantes said.
The groups denied accreditation were the Manila Teachers’ Savings and Loan Association Inc. (Manila Teachers), Association of Local Athletics Entrepreneurs and Hobbyists Inc. (Ala-Eh), Sports Excellence For Healthier Life’s Journey (Sel-J), Isang Kasambahay Po Association Inc. (Kasambahay), 1 Serve The People, and Ako An Bisaya.
The others disqualified were Abyan Ilonggo (which nominated Suplico), A Democratic Alliance (A Dahon), 1 Para Sa Bayan (1PSB), 1 Alliance Advocating Autonomy Party (which nominated Alvarez), Alab ng Pusong Pinoy, Inc. and Akbay Kalusugan Inc. (which nominated De Leon).
Brillantes said Comelec disqualified Manila Teachers because they were actually representing their “savings and loans association,” and not teachers.