25 party-list groups delisted

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) delisted yesterday 25 organizations from the official list of registered sectoral party-list groups for failing to get sufficient votes in the 2007 elections.

Among the delisted party-list groups were Abanse Pinay, Migrante, Ak, PCDO-ACTO, PGBI, Anak Mahirap, Aba, AKO, Aging Pinoy, Ahon Bayan, Aksa, Akapin, Asap, A Smile, Assalam, BTM, Bahandi, Cocofed, Grecon, Nelffi, PMAP, SM, Sanlakas, SPI and Suara.

In a six-page resolution, Comelec said the disqualified party-list groups either failed to participate in the last two elections or did not obtain two percent of the votes cast.

The Comelec said after an interested party filed a verified complaint or even motu propio, the commission could cancel the registration of a party-list group.

Poll officials, however, said the two percent vote requirement does not cover the organizations that won a congressional seat based on a recent Supreme Court ruling.

Comelec said the groups Barangay Association for National Advancement and Transparency (BANAT), Bayan Muna, A Teacher, and Abono could still participate in the coming elections.

Groups that were disqualified could still file their verified opposition to the resolution on Oct. 26, during office hours.

Election officials said the purge of the list of registered party-list groups is being undertaken to ensure orderly elections in 2010.

They said that there are moribund parties that are already not functioning and should be removed from the list.

Comelec chairman Jose Melo earlier said that the participants in the party-list elections have “gotten out of hand” with any small group claiming to be marginalized and seeking accreditation to participate in the polls.

The poll body is currently deliberating on the petitions of more than 200 party-list groups seeking Comelec approval to participate in the 2010 elections.