Party-list screening kicks off

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Commission on Elections will start marathon hearings today on the registration of over 170 party-list organizations hoping to vie for congressional seats in the May 2013 elections.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. told reporters two divisions of the election body will handle the daylong hearings scheduled every Wednesdays and Thursdays for the entire month.

Hopefully by the end of May, the Comelec would be able to release the final list of party-list groups that are qualified to participate in the May 2013 balloting, said Brillantes.

“We want to be finished by the end of May so that we would know which groups are joining and which are not,” Brillantes told reporters, adding that the election body would strictly implement the rules under Republic Act No. 7941 or the Party-list System Act

The law allows Filipinos representing marginalized or underrepresented sectors or parties and who lack well-defined political constituencies to become members of the House of Representatives.

It also provides that organized group of persons from these sectors may register as a party, organization or coalition to the Comelec but they must submit their constitution, by-laws, platform of government and list of officers and other pertinent documents to the election body.