Disqualification stops Mikey's proclamation

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to recall the proclamation of Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo’s party-list group Ang Galing Pinoy (AGP) due to a pending motion for reconsideration involving the decision of its second division to dismiss two disqualification cases filed against the lawmaker.

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said the poll body had overlooked the fact that there is still a pending motion for reconsideration when AGP was proclaimed with 27 other groups yesterday.

“It (proclamation) will have to be recalled.  We will be issuing a resolution,” Melo said in an interview.

The Comelec will study if there are other proclaimed party-list groups that are in the same situation.

Days before the May 10 polls, the Comelec second division junked the disqualification cases against Arroyo lodged separately by losing senatorial bets

Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza and party-list group Bayan Muna who argued that the presidential son does not belong to the marginalized sector.

The division found that Arroyo had “clearly immersed himself with the hopes and aspirations of the party and the sector it

represents” which is supposed to be security guards.

In a 14-page resolution yesterday, the Comelec, sitting as National Board of Canvassers, had proclaimed the 28 groups that will occupy a total of 35 seats in the House of Representatives.

“The Comelec resolves to partially proclaim the following 28 party-list groups as initial winners in the party-list elections of May 10, involving a total of 35 guaranteed and/or additional seats, without prejudice to the proclamations of other parties, organizations or coalitions which may later on be established to be entitled to one guaranteed seat and/or additional seat,” the resolution showed.

The groups that have been given two seats are the Coalition of Association of Senior Citizens in the Philippines (1,292,182 votes); Akbayan Citizen’s Action Party (1,058,691 votes); Gabriela Women’s Party (1,001,421 votes); Cooperative Natcco Network Party (943,529 votes); ABONO (766,615 votes); Bayan Muna (746,019 votes); and An Waray (711,631 votes).

One seat, on the other hand, was allocated to Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines, Inc. (AGAP), 515,501 votes; Alliance for Barangay Concerns Party (ABC), 469,093 votes; Anakpawis, 445,628 votes; Kabataan Party-list, 417,923 votes; Abante Mindanao, Inc. (ABANAMIN), 376,011 votes; Act Teachers, 369,564 votes; You Against Corruption and Poverty (YACAP), 335,635 votes; Ang Kasangga sa Kaunlaran, Inc. (Ang Kasangga), 296,368 votes; Bagong Henerasyon (BH), 292,875 votes; Ang Galing Pinoy (AGP), 269,009 votes; Agbiag! Timpuyog Ilocano, Inc. (AGBIAG), 262,298 votes; Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA), 238,675 votes; Arts Business and Science Professionals, 257,301 votes; Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP),

244,623 votes; Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Mamayan, Inc. (AGHAM), 241,898 votes; Democratic Independent

Workers Association (DIWA), 238,675 votes; Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala, 234,717 votes; Kalinga Advocacy for Social Empowerment and Nation Building Through Easing Poverty, Inc. (Kalinga), 229,198 votes; Alagad Party-list, 227,116 votes; 1 Ang Pamilya, 217,032 votes; and Alliance of Volunteer Educators, 214,760 votes.

The Comelec had withheld the proclamation of 11 other winning groups, including topnotcher Ako Bicol (1,522,986 votes), that have pending disqualification cases.