2 party-list groups decry Comelec’s denial of their accreditation for Eleksyon 2022

At least two party-list groups have launched protests in front of the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila to denounce the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) denial of their accreditation for the 2022 national and local elections.

Among the protesting groups are the Nurses United Party-list and Guardians Party-list, according to GMA News’ Joseph Morong.

Nurses United Partylist decry denial of accreditation; it’s one of 107 partylist groups denied by COMELEC. Raffle of placement in ballot due on Dec. 10 @gmanews pic.twitter.com/a61npGrxzl

— Joseph Morong ???????? (@Joseph_Morong) December 6, 2021

These groups were included in the 107 party-list groups whose motions for reconsideration were junked by the poll body based on its resolution released December 1.

As part of their protest, members of Nurses United Party-list hurled tomatoes at the COMELEC logo.

Members of Nurses United Partylist pelt the COMELEC logo with tomatoes to denounce denial of accreditation @gmanews pic.twitter.com/q7jXnHpAVS

— Joseph Morong ???????? (@Joseph_Morong) December 6, 2021

On the other hand, Guardians Party-list first nominee Melvin Cuntapay told the media they will file a status quo ante order and petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court to question the Comelec’s rejection of their accreditation.

In a radio interview Monday morning, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said there are over 160 party-lists that were accredited by the poll body to participate in Eleksyon 2022.

According to him, the denial of the party-lists’ accreditation was mainly because of non-compliance of requirements set by the Comelec and issues in representation.

“Siyempre, iba-iba ‘yung dahilan for the denial but for the most part, ang nakita nating dahilan siguro eh ‘yung hindi nila pagtugon sa requirements ng accreditation process. But the rest, may mga issues sa representation ng mga sectors that they claim to represent,” he added.

(Of course, there are different reasons for the denial of the accreditation but for the most part, the reason was because of the non-compliance to our requirements. But the rest, there are issues in the representation of the sectors that they claim to represent.)

The accredited party-lists are allowed to participate in Comelec’s raffle on December 10 to determine their order of listing on the official ballot. — Hana Bordey/RSJ, GMA News