Comelec to review accreditation of 43 party-list groups

MANILA, Philippines - Forty-three party-list groups with seats in Congress will have their accreditations reviewed to determine if they are qualified to run in next year’s election. 

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the poll body has the authority to cancel accreditations on its own even without a complaint.

 “If they don’t comply with the continuing requirements to remain as a party-list, then we can cancel their accreditation,” he said.

Requirements for party-list groups include documents on their track records and membership, as well as the background of their nominees.

At present, 56 members of the House of Representatives are from 43 party-list groups.

To run in an election, party-list groups should not be a religious sect or denomination, organization or association organized for religious purposes; an advocate of violence or unlawful means to achieve its goals; an adjunct or a project organized or an entity funded or assisted by the government; a foreign party or organization; and they do not receive support for partisan political purposes from any foreign government, foreign political party, foundation, organization, whether directly or indirectly.

Nominees of party-list groups should be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines; a registered voter; a resident of the Philippines for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding election day; able to read and write; at least 25-years of age and belongs to the marginalized and underrepresented sector which his group seeks to represent.