Application for joint party accreditation withdrawn

MANILA, Philippines - Militant party-list lawmakers Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño and Liza Maza pulled out their application for accreditation of a joint political party before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Ocampo said they decided to withdraw their application before Comelec seeking the creation of a new political coalition so as not to dissolve their respective party-list organizations.

Ocampo and Casiño belong to the Bayan Muna party-list organization while Liza Maza represents the women’s group Gabriela.

“We cannot allow (the dissolution) because we’ll be at the losing end... we can still form a coalition without registering with Comelec,” Ocampo said.

Bayan Muna and Gabriela had sought to form a political coalition with Alliance for Concerned Teachers, Migrante International, Anakpawis, among other militant groups, to be named “Makabayan,” which is supposed to boost the senatorial bids of the three party-list congressmen in the 2010 elections.

Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle said they may have to disband the body hearing the petition of the three party-list lawmakers following the pullout.

“They wanted to have a political party but, at the same time, maintain their party-list organization. That can’t happen,” Tagle pointed out.

Ocampo said they would still retain their coalition as Makabayan and tie up with the United Opposition in next year’s elections.

“Each party will hold its own convention but on Nov. 13, we’re planning to hold the convention of Makabayan. We’ll form an alliance with the opposition,” he said.       – Sheila Crisostomo