Comelec axes 32 more groups from 2013 partylist polls

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday announced that it had disqualified 32 more groups from running in the 2013 partylist race.

In a press conference, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. explained that the following groups had been disqualified by the poll body’s en banc after the groups failed to file motions for reconsideration (MRs) for earlier decisions made by the poll body’s first and second divisions.

The groups that were axed were:
1 Adbokasiya para sa mga Handikap at Ispesyal na Kabataan, Itaguyod Natin
1-Aangat ka Pilipino
1-Asal
1EPINOY
1-WIL SERVE
Aabante Aaksyonan Abusado Amor
Ako at ang Basura
Ako Karay-a
Ako Para sa Batang Pinoy
Aktibong Tricycle ng Masa Inc.
Alliance for Democracy and Morality-Bantay Pasahero
Alliance of Rural and Urban Groups for Social Advancement
Alyansa ng mga Pilipino sa Abroad
Ang Tubig ay Bigay Policy Reform Movement
Aniban ng Magtutubig
Bangon Mangingisda
Bonafide and Enlightened Scions of Truth (BEST) Guardians Coalition
D’Manggagawa Balo Solo Parent Senior Citizen Civic Community
Gumil Filipinas Inc.
Ina ng Bayan
Kalahi Sectoral Party
Mindanao Allied Forces Inc.
Nagkaisang Alay sa Bayan ng Maka-Diyos at Makabayang Nangangalakal
National Crusaders for Peace and Democracy
Philippine Banana Pioneer Foundation Inc.
Poor’s Free College Inc.
Sararong Bicolnon
Tanod Bayan Kontra Krimen
UPTHODA
Urban Poor and Development Services Inc.
Vendors Aggrupation
WOW Philippine Political Party

Brillantes noted that the Comelec en banc decided to uphold the ruling of its first and second divisions, which disqualified the 32 groups.

“Hindi naman nag-file ng MR (No MR was filed, so the decision of the division became final),” Brillantes said.

In a 13-page resolution, the Comelec’s first division, headed by Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, had earlier said that the party-list group 1-WIL SERVE or WIL was disqualified because documents the group submitted revealed that “what it actually intends to represent is the WILFOUNDATION and not the urban poor, elderly, and professionals.”

The group, which is affiliated with game show host Willie Revillame, is a multi-sectoral party claiming to represent the elderly, poor, women, and professionals in regions 2, 3, 4, and the National Capital Region (NCR).

“The conduct of outreach programs by WIL with some institutions catering to the needs of the urban poor, elderly and youth does not sufficiently demonstrate its knowledge about the needs of each and every sector of the urban poor, elderly, women and professionals, and thus that it is capable of representing them,” the resolution said.

“The Commission is unconvinced that the former will be able to contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation because they have no concrete knowledge regarding the actual needs, concerns and sentiments of the said sectors,” it added.

The poll body has been undergoing a re-evaluation of old and new party-list 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.

Last week, Brillantes announced that 79 partylist groups – 58 retained, existing party-lists, and 21 new groups granted accreditation – had been allowed to participate in the 2013 partylist race.