The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is likely to delist 39 party-list groups and exclude their participation in the synchronized national and local elections next year.
In a statement, the Comelec said the registration of these party-list groups will be removed or cancelled for failure to obtain at least 2 percent of votes cast under the party-list system and to participate in the last two preceding elections for the constituency it represents.
Nine of the groups failed to participate in the last two preceding elections — ADING (Advance Community Development in New Generation), 1-AAMOVER (1-A Action Moral & Values Recovery Reform of the Phils., Inc.), ANG PAMILYA (Una Ang Pamilya), AG (Ang Galing Pinoy), ALAGAD (Alagad Party-List), ANAD (Alliance For Nationalism and Democracy), KAKUSA (Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala, Inc.), KALIKASAN PARTY-LIST, and 1-AANI (Usa An Aton Nahigugma Nga Iroy Nga Tuna).
Some 30 other party-list groups have failed to obtain the required 2% of the votes cast for the party-list system and a seat in the second round of seat allocation for the party-lists in the last two preceding elections.
These are the ALAY BUHAY (Alay Buhay Community Development Foundation, Inc.), ATING KOOP (Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba), AVE (Alliance of Volunteer Educators), ABAKADA (Abakada Guro), BANAT (Barangay Natin), ABAMIN (Abante Mindanao, Inc), APPEND (Append, Inc), ANG NARS, TAO MUNA (Ang Tao Muna at Bayan), and AKO AN BISAYA.
Likewise on the list are ANUPA (Alliance of National Urban Poor Organizations Assembly, Inc.), CONSLA (Confederation of Non-Stock Savings and Loan Associations, Inc.), ASEAN (Academicians, Students and Educators Alliance, Inc.), AMEPA OFW (Amepa OFW Access Center, Inc.), FICTAP (Federation of International Cable TV and Telecommunications Associations of the Philippines), GLOBAL (Global Workers and Family Federation, Inc.), KMM (Kaisahan ng mga Maliliit na Magsasaka), METRO (Movement For Economic Transformation and Righteous Opportunities), PM (Partido Manggagawa), SAMAKO (Sandigan ng mga Manggagawa sa Konstruksiyon).
The remaing groups are SINAG (Sinag Tungo Sa Kaunlaran), ITO ANG TAMA (Tanggol Maralita, Inc.), TINDERONG PINOY (Tinderong Pinoy Party), TRICAP (Tribal Communities Association of the Philippines), UNIDO (Union of Nationalist Democratic Filipino Organization), ALL-FISH (Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federations Inc.), AWAKE (Awareness of Keepers of the Environment, Inc.), KAMAIS (Kapatirang Magmamais ng Pilipinas Inc.), PBB (Partido ng Bayan ang Bida) and 1-AHAPO (One Bagong Ahapo ng Pilipinas.
Under the Party-List System Act (RA 7941) the Comelec is authorized to remove or cancel the registration of party-list groups, organizations or coalitions which fail to meet or comply with the law’s required conditions.