Comelec revokes Mikey party list's proclamation

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday proclaimed the party-list group of Pampanga Rep. and presidential son Juan Miguel “Mikey" Arroyo — only to retract it later in the day. Ang Galing Pinoy (AGP), which claims to represent security guards and tricycle drivers, was among the 28 party-list groups proclaimed after winning the May 10 automated elections. Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal cited pending disqualification cases as the reason why they retracted AGP’s proclamation. AGP’s proclamation was booed by those present at the event. A report on GMA Network's "24 Oras" said Mikey Arroyo is currently out of the country. A member of AGP, meanwhile, dismissed the lukewarm reception given to them by the audience during the proclamation. "Siguro magpe-perform na lang kami para maipakita sa mga sumuporta at bumoto sa amin na karapat-dapat kami (We'll just perform well to show our supporters that we deserve to be elected)," said Charlie Chua in an interview aired over "24 Oras." Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza had earlier sought the disqualification of Arroyo as the group’s first nominee, saying he is not a member of the sector AGP seeks to represent.

Militant group Akbayan likewise asked the Comelec to immediately declare the disqualification of the nominees of AGP for failing to comply with a requirement mandated by the law. Comelec Resolution 8807 requires party-list groups to submit documentary evidence to prove that their nominees truly belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sector they seek to represent. Meanwhile, the Comelec also recalled the proclamation of 12 other party-list groups due to pending petitions for cancellation of registration and for facing petitions for disqualification of nominees. Those facing petitions for cancellation of registration are: - Ako Bicol Political Party (Ako Bicol) - Buhay Hayaan Yumabong Party-list (Buhay) - 1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy (1-CARE) - Citizens' Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) - LPG Marketers Association, Inc. (LPGMA) - Ang Asosasyon Sang Manguguma Nga Bisaya-Ow Mangunguma, Inc. (MBIS-OWA) - Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) - Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) Those facing petitions for disqualification of party-list nominee: - 1-UTAK - Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment Through Action Cooperation and Harmony - Towards Educational Reforms (A Teacher) - Butil Farmer Party (BUTIL) - KBK/HS, GMANews.TV