Comelec readies raffle on placing of party-list groups in ballots

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) expressed readiness to conduct the first-ever raffle for the official placing of party-list organizations in the ballots to be used in the May 13 midterm elections.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said they are in the process of making last-minute preparations for the raffle, which replaces the traditional alphabetical listing of party-list groups.

The raffle will be held on Friday afternoon at the Comelec head office in Intramuros, Manila.

“This is the first time we will be doing this in the entire history of our party-list system,” said Sarmiento, chair of the raffle committee.

Sarmiento noted the previous system has supposedly pushed groups eyeing a party-list seat in the House of Representatives to start their group name with the letter “A” or number “1” to gain easy recognition from voters.

Rules provide that a member of the Commission shall be drawing one ball at a time, with the drawing of the balls being in accordance with the sequence of listing in the ballot.

For example, the first ball drawn shall represent slot number one on the ballot, and so and so forth, with the procedure to be repeated until all the balls inside the raffle drum had been drawn.

According to Sarmiento, they will be involving a total of 135 party-list organizations in the raffle.

To be included in the raffle are the 84 approved groups by the seven-man en banc, as well as the 51 groups that have already been disqualified by the commission but have already secured status quo ante orders from the Supreme Court.

The approved groups are the 58 party-lists with existing accreditation and 26 new applicants as party-lists.

The 58 retained PL groups are 1 Banat and Ahapo Party-list Coalition [1BAP]; Abakada-Guro [Abakada]; Abante Katutubo Inc. [Abante Ka]; Abante Mindanao [Abamin]; Abante Tribung Makabansa [ATM]; Abono Party-list [Abono]; Act Teachers Party-list [Act Teachers]; Adhikain ng mga Dakilang Anak Maharlika [Adam]; Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba [Ating Koop]; Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment Through Action Cooperation and Harmony Towards Educational Reforms [A Teacher]; Agbiag Timpuyog Ilocano Inc. [Agbiag]; Agila ng Katutubong Pilipino Inc. [Agila]; Agrarian Development Association [ADA]; Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines [Agap]; AkapBata Sectoral Organization for Children Inc. [Akapbata Inc.]; Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party [Akbayan]; Ako Ayoko sa Bawal na Droga [AKO]; Alagad [Alagad]; Alay Buhay Community Development Foundation Inc. [Alay Buhay]; Alliance for Philippine Security Guards Cooperative [AFPSEGCO]; Alliance of Volunteer Educators Party-list [AVE]; Alyansa Lumad Mindanao Inc. [Allumad]; Ang Asosasyon Sang Mangunguma Nga Bisaya-Owa Mangunguma Inc. [Aambis-OWA]; Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino [ALIF]; Ang Ladlad [Ang Ladlad]; Ang Mata’y Alagaan [AMA]; Ang National Coalition of Indigenous Peoples Action Na [Ang NCIP]; Ang Partido ng mga Pilinong Marino, Inc. [Angkla]; and Arts Business and Science Professionals [ABS].

Also retained are the groups Association of Laborers and Employees [ALE]; Bagong Henerasyon [BH]; Bayan Muna [Bayan Muna]; Buhay Hayaan Yumabong [Buhay]; Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption [Cibac]; Cooperative Natcco Network Party [Coop Natcco]; Democratic Independent Workers Association Inc. [Diwa]; Gabriela Women’s Party [Gabriela]; Kababaihang Lingkod Bayan sa Pilipinas [KLBP]; Kabataan Party-list [Kabataan]; Kalinga [Kalinga]; Kasangga sa Kaunlaran Inc. [Ang Kasangga]; Kasosyo Producer [AA Kasosyo]; Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan All Filipino Democratic Movement [Kaakbay]; Katribu Indigenous Peoples Sectoral Party [Katribu]; Alyansa ng Media at Showbiz [AMS]; Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan Inc. [Agham]; Alyansa ng OFW Party [Alyansa ng OFW]; Alyansang Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka, Manggagawang Bukid at Mangingisda [ABA]; An Waray [An Waray]; Anak Mindanao Party-list [Amin]; Anakpawis [Anakpawis]; LPG Marketers Association Inc. [LPGMA]; Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta [PBA]; Social Amelioration & Genuine Intervention on Poverty [1-Sagip]; Trade Union Congress Party [TUCP]; Una ang Pamilya Party-list [1 Ang Pamilya]; Veterans Freedom Party [VFP]; and You Against Corruption and Poverty [Yacap].

On the other hand, the 26 new applicants given due course by the Comelec are 1 Joint Alliance of Marginalized Group Inc. [1JAMG]; 1-Abilidad [1-Abilidad]; A Action Moral & Values Recovery Reform Philippines Inc. [1-AAMover]; Aagapay sa Matatanda [AMA]; Abante Retirees Party-list Organization [Abante Retirees]; Advance Community Development in New Generation [Ading]; Ang Nars [ANG NARS]; Ang Prolife [Ang Prolife]; Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support Inc. [ACT-CIS]; Anti-War Anti-Terror Mindanao [Awat Mindanao]; Append Inc. [Append]; Association of Marine Officer & Ratings Inc. [Amor Seaman]; Ating Agapay Sentrong Samahan ng mga Obrero, Inc. [Aasenso]; Ating Guro [Ating Guro]; Isang Alyansang Aalalay sa Pinoy [1-Aalalay]; Isang Lapian ng Mangingisda at Bayan Tungo sa Kaunlaran [1-Lambat]; Isang Pangarap ng Bahay sa Bagong Buhay ng Maralitang Kababayan, Inc. [1-Pabahay]; Magdalo Para sa Pilipino [Magdalo]; Mamamayan Tungo sa Maunlad na Pilipinas [MTM PHILS]; Migrante Sectoral Party of Overseas Filipinos and their Families [Migrante]; OFW Family Club Inc. [OFW Family]; Pilipinos With Disabilities [PWD]; Piston Land Transport Coalition Inc. [Piston]; Sectoral Party of Ang Minero [Ang Minero]; Sanlakas [Sanlakas]; and Ugnayan ng Maralita Laban sa Kahirapan [Umalab Ka].

Also to be included in the raffle are the 51 groups that have been granted temporary relief by the High Tribunal.

They are Abang Lingkod Party-list [Abang Lingkod]; Action Brotherhood for Active Dreamers Inc. [Abroad]; Action League of Indigenous Masses [Alim]; Adhikain at Kilusan ng Ordinaryong Tao Para sa Lupa, Pabahay, Hanapbuhay at Kaunlaran [Ako Bahay]; Agapay ng Indigenous Peoples Rights Alliance [A-Ipra]; Agri-Agra na Reporma para sa Magsasaka ng Pilipinas Movement [Agri]; Ako Bicol Political Party [AKB]; Aksyon Magsasaka-Partido Tinig ng Masa [Akma-PTM]; Alab ng Mamamahayag [Alam]; Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy [Anad]; Alliance for Rural and Agrarian Reconstruction Inc. [Araro]; Alliance for Rural Concerns [ARC]; Alliance of Advocates in Mining Advancement for National Progress [Aama]; Alliance of Bicolnon Party [ABP]; Ang Agrikultura Natin Isulong [Aani]; Association for Righteousness Advocacy on Leadership [Aral]; and Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives [Apec].

Also armed with SQAs are Atong Paglaum Inc. [Atong Paglaum]; Bayani Party-list [Bayani]; Blessed Federation of Farmers and Fishermen International Inc. [A Blessed]; Butil Farmers Party [BUTIL]; Firm-24K Association Inc. [Firm 24-K]; 1 Guardians Nationalist Philippines Inc. [1Ganap/Guardians]; 1-Bro Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc. [1 BRO-PGBI]; 1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy Inc. [1-Care]; Aangat Tayo [AT]; Green Force for the Environment Sons and Daughters of Mother Earth [Greenforce]; Kaagapay ng Nagkakaisang Agilang Pilipinong Magsasaka [KAP]; Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala [Kakusa]; Philippine Coconut Producers Federation Inc. [Cocofed]; Social Movement for Active Reform and Transparency [Smart]; The True Marcos Loyalist (for God, Country and People) [Bantay]; and United Movement Against Drugs Foundation [UNI-MAD], Alliance Advocating Autonomy Party (1AAAP); 1- United Transport Koalisyon (1-Utak); 1st Kabagis; Abyan Ilonggo; Akbay Kalusugan (Akin); Ako An Bisaya Party (AAB); Alagad ng Sining (Asin); Alliance of Organizations Networks and Associations of the Phils. Inc (Alona); Ang Galing Pinoy (AG); Guardian; ALA-EH; Senior Citizens; Kalikasan Party-list; Binhi; Manila Teachers; Partifo ng Bayan ang Bida; Pilipinas Para Sa Pinoy; and Pacyaw. (HDT/Sunnex)