10 winning party-list groups not joining 2025 polls?

DESPITE successful runs in the May 2022 polls, 10 party-list organizations failed to file a “manifestation of intent to participate” in the party-list elections next year.

This was based on a list provided by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the party-list groups that have filed their manifestation.

The 10 include groups that have long held seats at the House of Representatives.

Under the rules on party-list representation, only organized groups duly registered with the Commission, and have filed their manifestation of intent to participate may join the party-list elections.

The deadline for filing of the “Manifestation of Intent to Participate in the Party-List System Elections for the 2025 Polls” was Dec. 29, 2023.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said there would be no deadline extension.

“The present Comelec is not in the business of extending what has been decided as deadlines,” said Garcia in a phone interview.

He also said there is no valid reason for an extension as a large number of party-list groups have been able to file manifestations of intent.

“It puzzles us that most have complied, why can others not? Convince us most strongly why the deadline should merit a liberal application to your party-list,” said Garcia.

Five of the 10 are Social Amelioration and Genuine Intervention on Poverty (SAGIP), One Patriotic Coalition of Marginalized Nationals (1-PACMAN), Cooperative NATCCO Party (COOP-NATCCO), Kalinga-Advocacy for Social Empowerment and Nation-Building Through Easing Poverty (KALINGA), LPG Marketers Association (LPGMA).

SAGIP won two seats in the 2022 polls. One of its representatives, Rodante Marcoleta, said as far as he knows, his party-list group was able to file a manifestation of intent.

The five others are Kabalikat ng Mamamayan (KABAYAN), Pusong Pinoy (PUSONG PINOY), Komunidad ng Pamilya Pasyente at Persons with Disabilities (P3PWD), One Filipinos Worldwide Coalition Partylist (OFW), and Agrikultura Ngayon Gawing Akma at Tama (ANGAT).

A media officer of Rep. Marissa Magsino (PL, OFW) said there was just a “miscommunication” with the Comelec but their office was also able to process the requirement, something that their election lawyer