200 groups apply for party-list registration

MANILA, Philippines — Around 200 party-list groups have applied for registration with the poll body, according to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

“Out of these new applicants, 120 were dismissed while 80 are still set for hearing,” Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said in a message sent to The STAR.

Once registered, publication of a “Manifestation of Intent to Participate” by these party-list groups in two national broadsheets is required for them to be able to join next year’s elections.

Garcia said that once published and no petition is filed to block the application, the party-list group becomes qualified to join the 2025 elections.

Only organized groups duly registered with the Comelec and have filed the Manifestation of Intent to Participate may join the party-list elections next year.

 In an order, Garcia said “the petitioner needs to submit four copies of the Proof of Publication with the Office of the Clerk of Commission located at the Palacio del Gobernador Bldg., Intramuros, Manila within 15 days from the receipt of the Order.”

The Comelec said if there are those opposed to the group seeking to run in the 2025 elections, they may a file a petition before the Commission within ten days from the date of publication.

The poll body said that as of last count, there were 145 applicants that were approved as party-list groups to be joining the elections May next year.

One of the recent party-list groups that expressed intention to participate in the 2025 elections is the newly formed “Pilipinas Babangon Muli or PBBM.”

The group, with headquarters at Hacienda Villas, Taal, Batangas, is led by a certain Jose Panganiban Jr. It said that it has 140 chapters nationwide.