24 party-list groups disqualified in 2019 polls

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-four party-list organizations have been disqualified from participating in the May 2019 elections, a resolution of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed yesterday.

In Resolution No. 10273 promulgated on March 20, the Comelec had ordered the delisting of the groups for not participating in the last two elections and/or failing to obtain seat/s in the two previous polls. 

“The commission resolves to delist and cancel the registration of the said party-list groups, organizations and coalitions,” stated the resolution unanimously signed by Comelec acting Chairman Al Parreño and Commissioners Luie Tito Guia, Ma. Rowena Guanzon and Sheriff Abas. 

The resolution showed that 18 of the organizations have failed to get at least two percent of the votes cast for the party-list elections and failed to win a seat in the second round of seat allocation for the party-list system in the last two preceding elections.

These are DISABLED/PWD, SANLAKAS, ABANTE RETIREES, 1-ABILIDAD, PISTON, ALE, ANG PROLIFE, ATING GURO, UMALAB KA, AMA, AMOR SEAMAN, 1-AALALAY, MTM PHILS, ANG KASANGGA, AGHAM, MIGRANTE, AWAT, MINDANAO and 1-PABAHAY.

Five organizations were disqualified for failing to run in the last two polls. These are ARCAPP, BIDA, CHINOY, SABOD and WPI. 

The resolution showed that COCOFED was delisted because of its failure to obtain a seat in the 2010 and 2013 elections as well as failure to participate in the 2016 polls.

The groups can file a motion for reconsideration after officially receiving a copy of the resolution.

Under the Party-List System Act, the Comelec can cancel a party-list organization’s registration if it fails to participate in the last two preceding elections or fails to win at least two percent of the votes cast under the system in two preceding elections.