12 more party-list groups out

THE Commissions on Elections (Comelec) on Friday disqualified 12 more party-list groups from running in the 2013 elections and said that more groups would be added to the list in December.

The 12 groups that were denied entry to the election bandwagon were Manila Teachers, Ala-Eh, SEL-J, Kasambahay, 1 Serve the People, Ako an Bisaya, Abyan Ilonggo, Democratic Alliance, 1 Para sa Bayan, 1 Alliance Advocating Autonomy, Alab ng Pusong Pinoy and Akbay Kalusugan.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brilliantes Jr. said that the reason for the disqualifications

of the aspiring groups was their failure to represent the marginalized and the underrepresented sectors. He cited the case of Manila Teachers, saying that the group is not represented by teachers.

On Thursday, Comelec en banc disqualified the Black and White Movement’s motion for reconsideration citing that the movement failed to prove in its track record that it worked for and represented the marginalized and underrepresented. Comelec added that the group was more of a political party than a partylist. The Black and White Movement is a known ally of President Benigno Aquino 3rd.

James Jimenez, Comelec spokesman, said that more than a hundred pending party-list groups are still waiting to be reviewed and added that they are still expecting to disqualify more groups before December.