Comelec defers proclamation of party-lists with 2 nominees

MANILA, Philippines – Six more winning party-list groups may have to wait a little longer to be officially proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said they have opted to defer the proclamation of winning party-list groups that have submitted two sets of nominees and withhold their certificates of proclamation (COP) until they are able to resolve their chosen representatives to Congress.

“We will be holding some other COPs since they are still disputing on (which is the rightful) nominees… those that have two factions,” Brillantes said.

He said the Comelec is already rushing a resolution that would resolve the problem of winning party-list groups with two sets of nominees.

Among the groups with two sets of nominees are Ako Bicol Political Party (AKB); Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP); Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba (ATING KOOP); Anak Mindanao Party List (AMIN); Abakada-Guro (ABAKADA); and Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC).

AKB and CIBAC have secured two seats in Congress while TUCP, ATING KOOP, AMIN, and ABAKADA got one seat each.

AKB nominees are Christopher Co, Rodel Batocabe, and Alfredo Garbin Jr., as well as Emilio Ubaldo Jr., Pedro Ravanilla, and Rus Kristoffer Parcia.

CIBAC nominees are Luis Lokin Jr., Bibiano Rivera Jr., and Antonio Manahan Jr. as well as Sherwin Tugna, Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales, and Armi Jane Borje.

TUCP nominees are Raymond Democrito Mendoza, Anthony Sasin, and Miguel Niez as well as Roland de la Cruz, Alejandro Villaviza, and Temistocles Dejon Jr.

ATING KOOP nominees are Roberto Mascariña, Amparo Rimas, and Lancelot Padla as well as Isidro Lico, Gloria Futalan, and Ma. Socorro Calara.

For AMIN, the nominees are Amabella Carumba, Acmad Macatimbol, and Anthony Cuyong as well as Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, Rowaisa Pandapatan, and Alejandro Plariza.

ABAKADA nominees are Jonathan de la Cruz, Alexander Lopez, and Rodolfo Tor as well as Artemio Tuquero, Lope Feble, and Pedro Dabu Jr.

The Comelec earlier withheld the certificates of proclamation of Buhay, Magdalo, and An Waray, after the Supreme Court issued an order lifting the disqualification of Senior Citizens and Abang Lingkod party-lists.

Buhay was the only group that was able to get three seats among all winning party-lists while Magdalo and An Waray were among the 13 groups that got two seats. –Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star) with Paolo Romero