13 ‘excluded’ party-lists in raffle named

THIRTEEN party-list groups that were erroneously included in the historic raffle conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) were identified Monday.

The groups and the slots drawn included 16 for Ako An Bisaya (AAB); 24. Alagad ng Sining (Asin); 34. Alab ng Mamahayag (ALAM); 36. Association of Guard, Utility Helper, Aider, Rider, Driver/Domestic Helper, Janitor, Agent and Nanny of the Philippines Inc. (Guardjan); 41. Abyan Ilonggo (Abyan Ilonggo); 45. Alliance of Organizations, Networks and Associations of the Philippines (Alona); and 47. Partido ng Bayan and Bida (PBB).

Also mistakenly included were 63. Pilipinas para sa Pinoy (PPP); 69. 1-Alliance Advocating Autonomy Party (1AAP); 80. Kalikasan (Kalikasan); 83. Akbay Kalusugan (Akin); 101. Manila Teachers Savings and Loans Association (Manila Teachers); and 102. Association of Local Athletics, Entrepreneurs and Hobbyists (ALA-EH).

Last week, the Comelec held the first-ever raffle for the placing of the 136 party-list groups in the official ballots of May 13 midterm polls.

The raffling of slots will replace the traditional alphabetical listing of groups in the ballots that the Comelec has been using since 1998.

Based on Comelec Resolution 9604, these 13 groups are now officially excluded in the list since they were not able to meet the requirements the poll body has set on which groups will be allowed in the raffle.

“The Commission resolves to exclude from the list those new applicants who were not able to secure Mandatory Injunctions,” said the resolution issued Monday noon.

An earlier resolution by the Comelec provides that those should be included in the raffle are new groups that are duly accredited and party-lists that are retained by the poll body.

Comelec Resolution 9591 also states that new groups denied accreditation by the commission must secure mandatory injunction from the Supreme Court (SC), while existing groups whose accreditation were cancelled must obtain status quo ante orders, also from the SC.

“The Commission resolves to reserve the slots left vacant by the excluded party-list groups for those groups who will be able to obtain status quo ante order or mandatory injunction,” said the resolution.

The Comelec added the slots will just be “excluded” in the event they are eventually not filled by other groups that will be able to obtain an SQA or mandatory injunction. (HDT/Sunnex)