19 more party-list groups dropped

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified 19 more party-list groups from joining the 2013 polls.

The groups include the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD), Cocofed Philippine Coconut Producers Federation Inc. (COCOFED), Alliance of Advocates in Mining Advancement For National Progress (AAMA), Bayani Partylist (Bayani), Abang Lingkod Inc., Ang Agrikultura Natin Isulong (AANI), Agapay Ng Indigenous Peoples Rights Alliance Inc. (A-IPRA), Alliance for Mindanao Elders (AME), Greenforce, Firm 24-K Association Inc. (Firm 24-K), Action League Of Indigenous Masses (ALIM), Alma Sa Pagkahikahos At Ignoransiya (ALMA), Kaunlaran Ng Agrikultura, Asensadong Probinsya Angat Ng Bayan (KAAGAPAY), and Social Movement For Active Reform And Transparency (SMART).

The full commission had also disqualified the new groups Kalikasan Green Party of the Philippines (KALIKASAN), A-SEAMARINERS, and Education Development Services for Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (EDSA).

Two other groups – Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran (KABAKA) and the Alliance of Bicolnon Party – would not be allowed to participate in next year’s party-list polls but their accreditation as political parties remains.

The list of disqualified does not include the Black and White Movement, a civil society group supporting President Aquino, whose application for accreditation was junked by the Comelec First Division last Oct. 29 for failing to prove that it has the track record to represent a marginalized and under-represented sector. The Comelec full bench will still review the ruling of the First Division before the order becomes final.

The poll watchdog group Kontra Daya filed a disqualification case against the Black and White Movement, citing its association with the President.

Among the members of the Black and White Movement who occupy positions in the Aquino administration are Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, and Presidential Peace Adviser Ging Deles.

The nominees of the Black and White Movement are: Leah Navarro, Marco Cabrera, Jose Morales, Mary Shinn Ramos, and Nolasco Apolonio.

Cemelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes also announced the first party-list group found qualified to run next year – the Pilipino with Disabilities (PWD).

“They are represented by Filipinos. All of them are disabled, all members, all nominees. Right now, we don’t have the representation of the disabled,” he added. Nominees of the group are Michael Barredo, Manuel Agcaoili, Adeline Ancheta, Octavio Gonzales, and Luis Arellano.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said yesterday it would not intervene in the Comelec’s decision on the status of party-list groups amid allegations that its allies were being favored by the administration.

“Is there a justiciable controversy? If there is, the proper venue should be the Supreme Court. And some party-list groups have already questioned the decision of the Comelec with the Supreme Court. The party-list groups must remember that the Comelec is a constitutional commission, separate and independent from the executive branch,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda said it’s the call of the Comelec on which party-list groups could run in the 2013 polls.

Lacierda said the groups that were looking at Palace intervention would certainly be knocking on the wrong door “because we take no part in the determination by the Comelec in disqualifying a particular party-list.”

Lacierda also said that there is no reason for Comelec Commissioner Grace Padaca to inhibit from deliberations of the poll body because even Chairman Brillantes was a presidential appointee.

“Every time there’s a vacancy in the Comelec, the President is mandated under the Constitution to appoint. So he appoints on the basis of independence, integrity. I don’t see any reason why she should inhibit herself because primarily her role as a Comelec commissioner is to decide on election cases unless she is personally involved in any party, of which she is not for the moment. So I don’t see any reason why she should inhibit herself. Otherwise, she would be abandoning her duty without any rhyme or reason,” Lacierda said. –Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star) with Aurea Calica