Initial list of party-list groups out next week
-A A +AThursday, October 4, 2012
MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to release an initial list of party-list groups qualified to run in the 2013 midterm elections next week, chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Thursday.
"We will announce the partial list next week. Yesterday, we finished 50 percent of the total party-list groups. Today, (Thursday) we'll deliberate on another 20 percent. The rest will be finished next week," he told reporters.
Out of the 289 party-list groups seeking the poll body's accreditation, 17 have already been disqualified.
Among these groups were the Addicts and Alcoholics Carrying the Message Association, the Asosasyon ng Mangangalakal and the United Philippine Transport Tricycle, Trisikad, Habal-Habal Operators and Drivers Association, 1-Aangat Ka Pinoy, Isa Akong Magsasaka Foundation, Aksyon Mahirap, Aniban ng Magtutubig ng Pilipinas, and Aurora Integrated Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
Also disqualified are groups Ang Nagkakaisang Alay sa Bayan ng Maka-Diyos at Makabayang Nangangalakal, Sararong Bicolnon, Ako at ang Basura Movement, Alliance for Democracy and Morality-Bantay Pasahero, National Crusaders for Peace and Democracy, Mindanao Allied Forces, Vendors Aggrupation, Philippine Banana Pioneer Foundation Inc. and Bangon Mangingisda.
Brillantes said Comelec have already disqualified more than 37 party-lists but he refused to name the groups.
On Monday, the Anakbayan youth group filed a disqualification case against Akbayan party-list, saying they are overrepresented in the Aquino government.
Anakbayan noted that the party-list officials are holding various key positions in the Aquino government, including Commission on Human Rights chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales, former Akbayan president and the party-list group's first representative in the 11th Congress.
Aquino also appointed former Akbayan officials Ronald Llamas as presidential political affairs adviser, Joel Rocamora as head of National Anti-Poverty Commission, and Precival Cendena as National Youth Commission commissioner.
"We'll consider that (Anakbayan complaint). We're deliberating on a lot of party-list groups," the poll body chief said. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)
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