MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 14, 2012) – The Migrante Middle East has joined the mounting calls for the Commission on Elections to make public qualified party-list groups ahead of the synchronized local, regional and national polls.
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) earlier made a similar call to ensure credible and orderly elections in May 2013.
“It seems that the COMELEC missed to follow its own calendar of activities relative to the accreditation of party-list groups considering the relatively numerous groups that applied for accreditation,” John Leonard Monterona, Migrante Middle East regional coordinator, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
Monterona also cautioned the poll body in accrediting party-lit groups, saying, there are bogus groups that were previously accredited.
“But groups that genuinely represent marginalized sectors and have established track record in serving the sector they represent should not be deprived to participate in the upcoming elections and their chances to conduct electoral campaign will not be affected,” Monterona said.
Monterona’s group – Migrante Sectoral Party to be known as MIGRANTE – has a pending application for accreditation with the COMELEC.
Prior to May 2010 elections, the COMELEC delisted Migrante Sectoral Party for its failure to garner a seat for two consecutive party-lists elections in 2004 and 2007 although Migrante opted not to participate on 2007 party-list elections to devote its time and efforts in consolidating its chapters abroad and in the Philippines.
“We are looking forward, though we are sure that we fulfilled the Party-list system Act requirements, that the COMELEC will give a nod on our application for accreditation so that we could participate in the May 2013 party-list elections and eventually render genuine OFWs representation in the Philippine Congress,” Monterona said.
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