MANILA — A huge chunk of party-list groups and political parties applying for registration at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have been dismissed, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said Thursday.

Garcia reported that so far, only 30 party-list groups have been accredited by the commission out of almost 200 applicants.

“Mahigit isandaan. Kung hindi tayo nagkakamali mga 130 so far ang nadi-dismiss ng Comelec na mga application for registration. Kulang-kulang silang dalawandaan lahat na mga nag-apply sa Comelec at ang mga na-accredit pa lang so far ng komisyon mga treinta pa lamang. Ito na ang pinakamababa na na-accredit ng komisyon sa bawat eleksyon since time immemorial,” Garcia pointed out.

(More than 100. If I’m not mistaken around 130 applications for registration so far, have been dismissed. So far, we only have 30 accredited parties. The lowest sice time immemorial.)

Party-list groups that failed to get the Comelec’s nod either lack the documentary requirements like their constitution and by-laws, proof that majority of their members signed in support of the intention to participate in the electoral exercise and party advocacy, Garcia said.

“Minsan naman, madami talagang mahuhuli ka, eh mukha namang hindi talaga totohanan na mga sectoral organizations, na ang advocacy ay hindi naman talaga para sa sectoral groups katulad ng urban poor, farmers, fisherfolks. Kitang-kita kasi namin yun sa mga sina-submit. Minsan naman kao-organize lang,” Garcia said.

(Sometimes, you will see that they are not really sectoral organizations, and are not really advocates. Like of urban poor, farmers, fisherfolks. You can easily see that when they submit the documents. Some are freshly-organized.)

Still, Garcia stressed that the affected organizations have the option to file a motion for reconsideration, either before the Comelec or the Supreme Court.

National and local political parties and party-list organizations have only until August 30 to submit the requirements for accreditation or re-accreditation, Garcia said.

Before August ends, the commission will release its complete decision on party-list applications, with a target to have the final list of accredited groups next month.

“Kinakailangan mag-submit sila. Deadline nila sa August 30 ng Sworn Information Update Statement na kinakailangan nilang i-submit. Otherwise, hindi sila makakapag-participate sa ating halalan. Hindi sila makakapag-issue ng Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance kapag hindi sila nag-comply,” Garcia told journalists.

(They have to submit, their Sworn Information Update Statement. The deadline is August 30. Otherwise, they cannot participate in the elections.)

COMELEC TO PUBLISH ACCREDITED POLITICAL PARTIES

This time, the Comelec will block the attempts of scammers to illegally solicit campaign funds from business groups and other individuals through its publication of the final list of its would-be accredited political groups and party-list organizations, the Elections Chief stated.

The move is also “in the spirit of transparency,” Garcia said.

“Exclusive yung listahan. Ibig sabihin yung wala dun, tanggal na sila, o kaya na-disaccredit sila, o kaya hindi na-grant yung kanilang petition for accreditation,” Garcia stressed.

(The list is exclusive, which means that those who are not n the list were ether disaccredited, or their petition for accreditation was not granted.)

“Ang purpose kasi natin eh aba meron kasi minsang nanghihingi ng mga pang-kampanya ng mga political parties pagkatapos hindi naman pala tatakbo, o yun naman pala eh hindi naman accredited nga. So, para mapigilan ang mga ganyan, o yung mga patakbuhin, o bogus na political parties, maganda talaga na mailantad natin ang listahan,” he added.

(The purpose here is to protect people from those groups asking for campaign funds for supposed political parties which are not running, or not accredited. We want to do that to stop bogus political parties.)

And with the Commission requiring all accredited party-list groups to submit the “10 names” of their nominees, the Comelec will also publish the Certificate of Candidacy of each of them, Garcia said, along with the organizations Statement of Contributions and Expenses (SOCE) upon their submission after the elections.

‘REGISTRATION ANYWHERE PROGRAM’

Garcia meanwhile reminded the electorate about the closing period of the Comelec’s “Register Anywhere Program” on August 30.

Voters, however, have the option to still apply for registration or reactivation until September 30, he said.

“Ibig sabihin kung magpapa-transfer ka ng registration, magpapa-reactivate ka ng registration o magre-register ka bilang botante, ay no choice talaga kundi pumunta kayo sa lugar kung saan kayo magpapa-rehistro sa munisipyo o siyudad,” Garcia pointed out.

(Meaning, if you want to transfer your registration, wants to reactivate your registration or, register as a voter, you have no choice but to visit your desired municipality or city.)