MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday announced it had so far allowed 79 partylist groups to participate in next year’s mid-term polls.
Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr, in a press conference, released the list of approved groups.
Of the 79 groups approved, 58 were retained, existing party-lists, while 21 were new groups granted accreditation.
Brillantes said that even though almost half of the 115 existing party-lists were retained and only 21 of the 165 new applicants were granted, he was still not satisfied with the purging of the poll body.
“I am not satisfied. If you’re going to ask me, ako mismo, gusto ko na sanang in-abolish na lahat ‘yan para wala nang eleksyon sa party list. Para magbago na tayo, at mag-umpisa na naman tayo ng panibagong batas na maganda,” Brillantes said.
(I want all of them abolished so that there will be no more elections for partylists. It’s time for us to seek change and start with a better system.)
The Comelec has been undergoing a re-evaluation of old and new partylist groups as part of its efforts to cleanse the partylist system, which has been criticized as being exploited by bogus organizations or by groups whose nominees were either multimillionaires, former government officials or members of powerful political clans.
Brillantes admitted that the members of the en banc “tried their best” but that one could not come up with any perfect listing. He further noted that commissioners voted individually in the cases and that there were inconsistencies among them.
Brillantes added that members of the en-banc were still discussing the accreditation of five other partylist groups and the announcement of decisions would be made on Monday.
The following is the full list of the groups approved by the poll body
I. In unanimous votes, the Comelec retained the accreditation of the following groups:
- ATM – Abante Tribung Makabansa
- Act Teachers – Act Teachers Party-List
- A Teacher – Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment Through Action, Cooperation, and Harmony Towards Educational Reforms
- Agila – Agila ng Katutubong Pilipino Inc
- Alagad
- AFPSEGCO – Alliance for Philippine Security Guards Cooperative
- Ave – Alliance of Volunteer Educators Party-List
- Allumad – Alyansa Lumad Mindanao Inc
- Agham – Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan Inc
- Amin – Anak Mindanao Party-List
- Anakpawis
- Ang Ladlad
- Angkla – Ang Partido ng mga Pilipinong Marino Inc
- Gabriela – Gabriela Women’s Party
- KLBP – Kababaihang Lingkod Bayan sa Pilipinas
- Kabataan Party-List
- Kaakbay – Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan All Filipino Democratic Movement
- Katribu – Katribu Indigenous Peoples Sectoral Party
- 1-Sagip – Social Amelioration and Genuine Intervention on Poverty
- TUCP – Trade Union Congress Party
II. Existing party-lists that were retained with dissent were:
- 1BAP – 1 Banat and Ahapo Party-List Coalition
- Abakada – Abakada-Guro
- Abante Ka – Abante Katutubo Inc
- Abamin – Abante Mindanao
- Abono Party-List
- Adam – Adhikain ng mga Dakilang Anak Maharlika
- Ating Koop – Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba
- Agbiag – Agbiag Timpuyog Ilocano Inc
- Ada – Agrarian Development Association
- Agap – Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines
- Akapbata Inc – Akapbata Sectoral Organization for Children Inc
- Akbayan – Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party
- Ako – Ako Ayoko sa Bawal na Droga
- Alay Buhay – Alay Buhay Community Development Foundation Inc
- AMS – Alyansa ng Media at Showbiz
- Alyansa ng OFW Party
- Aba – Alyansang Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka, Manggagawang Bukid, at Mangingisda
- An Waray
- Aambis-Owa – Ang Asosasyon Sang Mangunguma Nga Bisaya-Owa Mangunguma Inc
- Alif – Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino
- Ama – Ang Mata’y Alagaan
- Ang NCIP – Ang National Coalition of Indigenous Peoples Action Na
- ABS – Arts Business and Science Professionals
- Ale – Association of Laborers and Employees
- BH – Bagong Henerasyon
- Bayan Muna
- Buhay – Buhay Hayaan Yumabong
- Cibac – Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption
- Coop Natcco – Cooperative Natcco Network Party
- Diwa – Democratic Independent Workers’ Association Inc
- Kalinga
- Ang Kasangga – Kasangga sa Kaunlaran Inc
- AA Kasosyo – Kasosyo Producer
- LPGMA – LPG Marketers Association Inc
- PBA – Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta
- 1 Ang Pamilya – Una ang Pamilya Party-List
- VFP – Veterans Freedom Party
- Yacap – You Against Corruption and Poverty
III. New applicants that were accredited with unanimous votes were:
- AMA – Aagapay sa Matatanda
- Ang Nars
- Aasenso – Ating Agapay Sentrong Samahan ng mga Obrero Inc
- PWD – Pilipinos with Disabilities
- Piston – Piston Land Transport Coalition Inc
IV. New applicants that were accredited but with dissenting votes were:
- 1JAMG – 1 Joint Alliance of Marginalized Group Inc
- 1-AAMOVER – A Action Moral & Values Recovery Reform Philippines Inc
- Abante Retirees – Abante Retirees Party-List Organization
- Ading – Advance Community Development in New Generation
- Ang Prolife
- ACT-CIS – Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support Inc
- Append Inc
- Amor Seaman – Association of Marine Officer and Ratings Inc
- 1-Aalalay – Isang Alyansang Aalalay sa Pinoy
- 1-Lambat – Isang Lapian ng Mangingisda at Bayan Tungo sa Kaunlaran
- 1-Pabahay – Isang Pangarap ng Bahay sa Bagong Buhay ng Maralitang Kababayan Inc
- Magdalo – Magdalo para sa Pilipino
- MTM Phils – Mamamayan Tungo sa Maunlad na Pilipinas
- Migrante – Migrante Sectoral Party of Overseas Filipinos and their Families
- OFW Family Club Inc
- Umalab Ka – Ugnayan ng Maralita Laban sa Kahirapan
Brillantes said the poll body had also cancelled the accreditation of two incumbent partylists 1-UTAK (United Transport Koalisyon), a group which claimed to represent the transport sector; and Coalition of Associations of Senior Citizens in the Philippines, Inc, a group which claimed to represent the elderly.
The accreditation of 1st Kabalikat ng Bayan Ginhawang Sangkatauhan (1st Kabagis),an existing partylist, had also been cancelled by the poll body.
Brillantes said the Senior Citizens partylist group was disqualified because its nominees went into an illegal term sharing arrangement.
“Ang final debate namin kanina (Earlier in our final debate), because they entered into an illegal term sharing arrangement. Hinati hati nila ‘yung term (They split the term). It’s an illegal act,” Brillantes said.
He added that the poll body also denied the application of the group ALONA party-list, whose nominees include family members of House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, for next year’s party-list race.