Comelec defends denial of party-lists’ accreditation

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday defended its decision to deny the application for registration of party-list groups seeking congressional seats in the May 2022 elections.

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said the poll body denied the application for registration of party-lists 1-TESDA, Nurses United and Ang Ladlad due to several reasons.

She said 1-TESDA used the name of a government agency, which will confuse voters and give an unfair advantage to them.

“TESDA or the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority itself and its lawyer opposed the usage of the agency’s name for a party-list group,” Guanzon said.

“I feel for Nurses United, but their petition was dismissed because of several defects,” she added.

It’s the same for Ang Ladlad, Guanzon said, referring to the party-list group that represents members of the LGBTQI+ community.

Guanzon said the usual defects, which prompted the Comelec to deny the registration of the party-list groups, include lack of consent of all members and failure to secure manifestation of intent to participate in the 2022 elections.?

Guanzon will retire in February 2022 or three months before the May elections, along with Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas and Commissioner Antonio Kho Jr.

The poll body on Tuesday raffled off the placement of party-lists on the official ballot for the 2022 polls.

At least 166 party-list groups joined the raffle, including those with pending petitions before the Comelec.

Party-list groups whose applications were dismissed with finality were excluded from the raffle.

Party-list Ang Probinsyano got the 50th slot on the official ballot, which according to its representative Alfred Santos, is a “good number as it could be easily recalled by the people.”