Comelec bars Black and White from joining polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections on Thursday disallowed the Black and White Movement to join the partylist elections in 2013.

During the Comelec en banc session, five Comelec officials voted to turn down the application for the accreditation of Black and White to participate in the midterm elections next year.

Among those who affirmed the decision of the poll body's First Division were Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., and Commissioners Rene Sarmiento, Elias Yusoph, Lucinito Tagle, and Armando Velasco.

Commissioners Robert Lim and Grace Padaca did not participate in the voting.

The Comelec en banc maintained that the Black and White Movement is an advocacy group and its nominees do not belong to the marginalized sector.

The nominees of the group include singer Leah Navarro.

Some partylist groups have earlier urged the Comelec to bar the Black and White Movement from running in the 2013 polls, saying it is an ally of the Aquino administration.