The Commission on Elections (Comelec) had stricken off 24 groups from its list of party-list organizations that were qualified to run for seats in the House of Representatives in the May 2019 elections.
The groups were removed from the list for either failing to take part in the last two elections or failing to win seats in the House reserved for representatives of marginalized sectors.
No seats
Comelec Resolution No. 10273 said 18 of the groups failed to win at least 2 percent of total votes which could have given them seats in the House.
These groups were Disabled-PWD, Sanlakas, Abante Retirees, 1-Abilidad, Piston, Ale, Ang Prolife, Ating Guro, Umalab Ka, Ama, Amor Seaman, 1-Aalalay, MTM Phils, Ang Kasangga, Agham, Migrante, Awat Mindanao, and 1-Pabahay.
Conditions
Republic Act No. 7941, or the Party-list System law, provides the cancellation of party-list groups’ registration if they failed to participate in two succeeding elections or failed to obtain at least 2 percent of total votes cast for party-list representatives in two succeeding elections.
Five other party-list groups were stricken off the Comelec list because of their failure to participate in two succeeding elections — Arcapp, Bida, Chinoy, Sabod and WPI.
The Cocofed group was also removed from the list.
The Comelec said the groups had 10 days to appeal the March 19 ruling of the poll body.