3 party-list groups not yet proclaimed – Comelec

MANILA, Philippines – More than a month after the 17th Congress opened, three party-list organizations with warring factions have not yet been proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista yesterday said these groups are the Coalition of Associations of Senior Citizens in the Philippines (Senior Citizens), 1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy Inc. (1-CARE) and Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP).

Bautista noted that the Comelec has not issued the certificates of proclamation (COPs) of the groups’ nominees as they have not resolved which factions should be recognized.

“Out of the 59 seats, we have proclaimed five nominees. We still have four COPs to issue,” he told reporters.

Based on Resolution No. 008-16 issued by the Comelec convening as the National Board of Canvassers in the May 9 polls, two of the nominees belong to Senior Citizens, which garnered 988,876 votes.

Meanwhile, 1-CARE and TUCP had one seat each after bagging 329,627 and 467,275 votes, respectively.

Bautista added that the Comelec is still determining which set of nominees is entitled to the seats at the House of Representatives.

“These internal issues within the party-list groups are almost always the reason for the delays in their proclamation. But we will resolve this, hopefully soon,” he said. 

Reforms needed

Sen. Risa Hontiveros defended the party-list system, which she said has to be reformed but not abolished as called for by President Duterte.

Hontiveros, who was a party-list representative of Akbayan before becoming a senator, said many party-list groups have recorded significant contributions since they were accorded membership in the House of Representatives. – With Marvin Sy