AFTER declaring the dominant majority and minority parties, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has named the eight major political parties and six major local parties for the May 9 polls.
According to Comelec Resolution 10094, the eight major political parties are: the Nacionalista Party (NP), Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), Aksyon Demokratiko, and National Unity Party (NUP).
The six major local parties are Kusog Baryohanon (KB) for Davao del Norte; United Negros Alliance (Unega) for Negros Occidental; Partido Abe Kapampangan (PAK) for Angeles City; Arangkada San Joseno (ASJ) for San Jose del Monte City; Achievement with Integrity Movement (AIM) for General Santos City; and Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran (Kabaka) for the National Capital Region (NCR).
As the major national parties, the eight groups are entitled to get the 9th to 16th copies of election returns (ERs) in every polling precinct, as well as 9th to 16th copies of all Certificates of Canvass (COCs), and can deploy official watchers in every polling place and canvassing centers.
On the other hand, the 19th and 20th copies of the ERs and COCs in their respective provinces or region shall be given to the accredited major local parties.
Comelec earlier announced that the Liberal Party (LP) and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) were tagged as the dominant majority and minority parties, respectively.
The criteria used by the Comelec in computing the major parties include the established record of showing in past elections; number of incumbent elective officials; identifiable political organizations and strengths as seen in their organized chapters; ability to field a complete slate of candidates from the local to national positions; and other analogous circumstances. (FP/Sunnex)