Comelec reviewing rules on accreditation of political parties

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is reviewing the rules on the accreditation of political parties and party-list organizations in preparation for the 2016 polls.

Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle said the review is primarily intended to comply with a Supreme Court (SC) decision allowing political parties and groups to participate in the party-list elections even if they are not representing marginalized and under-represented sectors.

“We are studying how we can apply that decision in our rules. At the same time, we want to get rid of some tedious requirements without compromising our efforts to strictly screen our lists,” he told The STAR.

There are close to 200 national and local political parties accredited with the Comelec and it is expecting parties to increase with the coming elections.

“We know many more political parties and party-list organizations that will seek accreditation and we are preparing for that. We want to make sure that we can screen them effectively so that only those qualified will be able to run in the elections,” he added.

A month before the May 2013 elections, SC had revised the rules on party-list system that it crafted 12 years ago by allowing political parties to run in the party-list elections.

The decision stemmed from the petition for certiorari and prohibition filed by more than 50 party-list organizations disqualified by the Comelec from the 2013 polls.

The Comelec and several party-list groups and civic organizations have opposed the ruling.

They believe it would further bastardize the party-list system that had become the backdoor entrance to Congress of many affluent individuals and former military, police and government officials.