‘Delisted groups may join future party-list polls’

Delisted party-list groups are not saying goodbye to elections forever.

For even after being stripped of their registration, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said delisted party-list groups can still participate in future elections.

“The 24 party-lists delisted under Resolution No. 10273 dated March 19 cannot run in the 2019 elections, but they can run in 2022, if they have been granted new accreditation,” Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said.

Guanzon said Comelec Resolution No. 9366 allows party-list groups delisted to file a new verified petition for registration.

“Provided however: that party-list groups delisted shall be ineligible to file a petition for registration in the election immediately following its delisting,” Guanzon explained.

She added delisted groups also have the option to appeal the Comelec decision if they wish to participate in the 2019 elections.

“Any party-list groups, organizations and coalitions adversely affected by our resolution may file a reconsideration with the clerk of the commission 10 days from notice hereof,” Guanzon pointed out.

The Comelec earlier ordered the delisting of 24 party-list organizations that failed to participate or were unable to obtain at least a seat in the last two elections.

Most of the delisted groups failed to get at least two percent of the votes cast and thus were unable to gain a seat in the second round of seat allocation for the party-list system in 2016 and 2013.

The Party-List System Act mandates the Comelec to cancel a party-list organization’s registration if it fails to participate in the last two preceding elections or fails to obtain at least two percent of the votes cast under the party-list system in those elections.