Comelec OKs accreditation of new political party

MANILA, Philippines - A new political party has gained accreditation from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines (CDP) was found to possess all the qualifications required of a political party.

The accreditation will allow the CDP to field candidates in next year’s elections.

CDP head Lito Monico Lorenzana is a former undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Lucenito Tagle, presiding commissioner of the Comelec Second Division, said CDP’s application did not encounter any opposition.

In a statement, Lorenzana said CDP was established early this year, but its individual members “have been serving this country faithfully in our own little ways for decades.”

“Thus united, we are going to be a force to reckon with,” he said.

“Mark my words, we are the emerging party to watch out for in the year 2013 and most specially in 2016.”

According to its website, CDP’s platform of government is to overcome poverty and underdevelopment, job creation, improve judicial system, increase the country’s competitiveness and uphold the rule of law.

Lorenzana said CDP will be fielding candidates in next year’s local, regional and national elections.

“In areas where we are strong, we will field complete slates,” he said.

Lorenzana said several national political parties have already approached the CDP on the possibility of fielding common candidates.

“Where we have presence but do not have enough good materials, we will coalesce with existing ideology-based parties similar to ours or we will adopt their candidates,” he said.