Comelec Halts Proclamation of Two Party-lists
The Commission on Elections (Comelec), acting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), has decided to suspend the proclamation of two winning party-lists from the 2025 mid-term elections. This suspension will take effect on the afternoon of Monday, May 19. Officials say this move respects ongoing legal processes tied to these groups.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia explained, “Pinagpaliban muna bilang pag respeto sa proseso. Kasi kahit po iproklama ng NBOC ang party-list, pwede pa rin po namin pagdesisyunan ang kaso bago ang June 30.” This means the suspension is temporary. Although the party-lists will not be proclaimed immediately, their cases can still be resolved before the new representatives officially take office on June 30.
Details on Suspended Party-lists and Legal Challenges
Garcia did not reveal the names of the two party-lists whose proclamations were suspended. However, he mentioned that one party-list earned three seats in the House of Representatives, while the other secured one seat. Among the groups winning three seats are Akbayan, Duterte Youth, and Tingog.
Of these, Duterte Youth has a known unresolved petition that has been pending for five years. Petitioners argue that Duterte Youth does not genuinely represent the youth sector. According to Comelec’s own records, Duterte Youth is not officially registered as a party-list group.
Legal experts emphasize the importance of addressing this issue. An election lawyer said Comelec should suspend Duterte Youth’s proclamation, stating it is “not only prudent, but it is a legal necessity.” The petition, filed in 2019, claims that Duterte Youth’s registration violated constitutional and legal mandates, including proper publication and hearing requirements under the 1987 Constitution and the Party-List System Act.
Proclamation Plans for Other Winning Party-lists
Meanwhile, the NBOC plans to proceed with proclaiming 63 nominees from other winning party-lists. This follows the number of available seats in the House of Representatives. Garcia noted that the top three party-lists each secured three seats. Those ranking fourth to sixth earned two seats apiece, while the remaining party-lists will receive one seat each.
In total, voters cast 41,950,282 votes for party-lists out of 57,350,968 participants in the elections. The Commission remains committed to ensuring the integrity of the electoral process while respecting legal protocols.
For more news and updates on the proclamation of winning party-lists, visit Filipinokami.com.