A delayed proclamation of the winning party-list groups could result in fraud, the Makabayan coalition in the House of Representatives grouping seven party-list House members warned Thursday.

Reelectionist Rep. Neri Colme­nares of Bayan Muna and outgoing Rep. Rafael Mariano of Anak-pawis expressed such sentiments a day after the Commission on Elections Commissioner Grace Padaca announced the top 25 vote-getters in the party-list race.

Makabayan includes Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and Kabataan. Of the top 25, only Bayan Muna, Gabriela and ACT have made it.

Bayan Muna ranked third with 945,639 votes, while Gabriela cornered 706,194 votes for eighth place. ACT landed in 17th place with 449,710 votes thus far. Padaca’s latest tally accounts for 95 percent of votes cast for party-list groups.

“Comelec proclaimed the first six senators with only 72 COCs received, amid questions of legality. Why isn’t Comelec pushing for the proclamation of winning party-list groups? The delay only raises the possibility of fraud by losing party-list groups,” Colmenares, the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, pointed out.
COC is the Certificate of Canvass.

Colmenares cited that there is no reason to suspend the proclamation, considering that per the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), votes from un­trans­mitted COCs are very minimal of the total party-list votes and will not affect the current standing of most of the winning party-list groups.

Back in the 2010 elections, the NBOC has proclaimed 61 percent of the total seat allocation for the party-list system pending the results of the overseas absentee voting.

Under the party-list law, a party-list group should earn at least two percent of the votes cast for party-list candidates to gain at least one seat in the House of Representatives.

The number of seats for each party-list group will depend on the number votes they get.
With more than 110 COCs canvassed and more than 28,292,869 party-list votes counted, it is time for the NBOC to proclaim the clear winners in the party-list race,” Colmenares added.

Mariano, for his part, noted that Comelec should adhere to the provision of the Automated Election System Law which endeavors to determine the will of the people in an expeditious manner.

Party-list groups fear fraud

By Llanesca T. Panti Reporter

A delayed proclamation of the winning party-list groups could result in fraud, the Makabayan coalition in the House of Representatives grouping seven party-list House members warned Thursday.

Reelectionist Rep. Neri Colme­nares of Bayan Muna and outgoing Rep. Rafael Mariano of Anak-pawis expressed such sentiments a day after the Commission on Elections Commissioner Grace Padaca announced the top 25 vote-getters in the party-list race.

Makabayan includes Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and Kabataan. Of the top 25, only Bayan Muna, Gabriela and ACT have made it.

Bayan Muna ranked third with 945,639 votes, while Gabriela cornered 706,194 votes for eighth place. ACT landed in 17th place with 449,710 votes thus far. Padaca’s latest tally accounts for 95 percent of votes cast for party-list groups.

“Comelec proclaimed the first six senators with only 72 COCs received, amid questions of legality. Why isn’t Comelec pushing for the proclamation of winning party-list groups? The delay only raises the possibility of fraud by losing party-list groups,” Colmenares, the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, pointed out.

COC is the Certificate of Canvass.

Colmenares cited that there is no reason to suspend the proclamation, considering that per the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), votes from un­trans­mitted COCs are very minimal of the total party-list votes and will not affect the current standing of most of the winning party-list groups.

Back in the 2010 elections, the NBOC has proclaimed 61 percent of the total seat allocation for the party-list system pending the results of the overseas absentee voting.

Under the party-list law, a party-list group should earn at least two percent of the votes cast for party-list candidates to gain at least one seat in the House of Representatives.

The number of seats for each party-list group will depend on the number votes they get.

“With more than 110 COCs canvassed and more than 28,292,869 party-list votes counted, it is time for the NBOC to proclaim the clear winners in the party-list race,” Colmenares added.

Mariano, for his part, noted that Comelec should adhere to the provision of the Automated Election System Law which endeavors to determine the will of the people in an expeditious manner.