Askal, addicts face scrutiny from Comelec

MANILA, Philippines - One group seems to be planning to capitalize on the popularity of the Azkals football team. Another has the catchy acronym Ako pa.

Party-list groups including one representing addicts and alcoholics and another with an acronym resembling the slang term for street dogs – or the popular national football team – are seeking accreditation with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for next year’s midterm elections.   

Comelec yesterday started hearing the petitions for accreditation of 172 party-list organizations, such as the Addicts and Alcoholics Carrying the Message Association Inc. (AACMA, INC.), Ako ang Pasahero, Inc. (AKOPA) and Asosasyon ng Mangangalakal (ASKAL).

But according to Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, the poll body will not judge the groups based on the groups’ seemingly curious representations or weird acronyms.

“It would be unfair if we do that. We decide based on qualifications. We don’t go for names,” Jimenez told The STAR.

And even if the Comelec is aiming to shorten the list of candidates for next year’s party-list system, he gave assurance the agency will not trample on a sector’s rights to be represented in Congress.

For his part, Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento expressed hope that groups would do self-evaluation to save on time and energy.

“We are requesting them to check our resolutions and the (related) laws and decisions of the Supreme Court to see if the evidence that they will submit will pass (our criteria),” Sarmiento said.

He noted that many of these applicants have slim chances of being accredited due to lack of qualifications and track record as a marginalized and under-represented sector of society.

Under Comelec Resolution No. 9366, the Comelec is requiring documents like the group’s Constitution and bylaws, platform or program of government, list of officers and members in the national, regional, provincial and city/municipal levels and manifestation of intent to participate in succeeding elections.

The agency also looks into the background and track records of party-list organizations to make sure that they were not created only for the election.

“We came out with the resolution because we want to fine-tune the party-list law. We want to be strict (in our screening) so that the Comelec policies will be implemented,” he added.

AACMA was among those scheduled for yesterday’s hearing but one of their officials did not show up.

According to AACMA chairman Clemente Abella, they are qualified to join next year’s party-list race because they are a marginalized and under-represented sector.

“We have no voice because (we have not) come out in the open. We are stigmatized... (But those of us who) have overcome, it is our responsibility to speak for our brothers,” he said.

Abella added that once they have a representative in the House, drug addicts and alcoholics will come out and get treatment.