Party-list information sought

DAVAO CITY—The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Friday reminded the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to conduct a massive information drive on the 12 party-list groups that were barred from taking part in elections Monday.

In a statement sent by e-mail, TUCP said the Comelec should immediately inform the public which groups were barred from taking part in the elections because “time is running out.”

“If the public is not made fully aware of the exclusion of these groups, they will most likely still vote for these groups,” TUCP said.

Early this week, the Comelec announced the disqualification of Agapay ng Indigenous Peoples Rights Alliance (A-IPRA), Abang Lingkod, Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Anad), Ang Galing Pinoy (AG), Atong Paglaum Inc. (Atong Paglaum), Kaagapay ng Nagkakaisang Agilang Pilipinong Magsasaka (KAP), Coalition of Senior Citizens in the Philippines Inc. (Senior Citizens), Social Movement for Active Reform and Transparency (Smart), 1st Kabalikat ng Bayan Ginhawang Sangkatauhan (1-Kabisig), The True Marcos Loyalists Association of the Philippines (Bantay), Philippine Coconut Producers Federation Inc. (Cocofed)  and Binhi Partido ng mga Magsasaka Para sa mga Magsasaka (Binhi).  Judy Quiros, Inquirer Mindanao