Only 100 party-list groups may be accredited for 2010

Saying that there seems to be an influx of party-list groups gearing to win a seat in the House of Representatives, a high-ranking official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that the poll body might only approve one-third of the total number of party-list petitioners. Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer said that there might only be around 100 party-list choices in the coming 2010 national elections.

This posted a big difference from the 306 groups who originally filed to be accredited to join next year’s polls.

“Sobra ngayon [number of party-lists]. Kasi yung decision ng SC [Supreme Court] that regardless whether or not the party-list has achieved the 2 percent of the entire votes, basta i-fill-up na daw yung 20 percent of the composition of Congress that may be filled up,” Ferrer explained.

The commissioner was referring to the Panganiban formula that was scrapped by the High Court earlier this year. The formula stated that only those who garnered 2 percent of the total votes can gain one seat in the Lower House.

The 2-percent threshold became a minimum requirement for a party-list to hold office in Congress. A party-list, however, will be allowed to have an additional one seat per additional 2 percent it gained.

This formula, however, has widely been criticized because it does not exactly follow the Constitution that requires Congress to be filled up by at least 50 party-list groups.

Ferrer said that the junking of the Panganiban formula resulted to some party-list groups thinking that they can gain a congressional seat by merely gaining a vote of 160,000.

“Marami na ang makakasama doon kahit na ang boto ay 160,000 something lang. Biro mo, magiging congressman ka with that vote. Kaya maraming na-encourage mag-file ng petition for accreditation,” he said.

But the poll body official also noted the rumors that said some groups sell their parties to politically motivated personalities after its accreditation by Comelec.

That’s what rumors are saying, Ferrer said.

He added though that unless someone files a case against these party-list groups, the poll body cannot pursue cases against them because their only function is to entertain the applicants.

“Even if you don’t say that, of course they shouldn’t [sell their party-list groups],” Ferrer said, adding that the public should be vigilant since they will only be allowed to vote one party-list.

“Yung mga ibang [genuine] party-lists will be affected kung maraming maka-qualify,” he said.

The poll body will also be requiring each party-list to publicize the names of their nominees for the 2010 polls by March 6. Comelec earlier said this will help voters to get to know their party-list representatives, as well as it will allow for a more transparent voting.

Ferrer said that the poll body is looking at releasing the final list of accredited party-lists by the first week of January. –BERNICE CAMILLE V. BAUZON REPORTER, Manila Times