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Solons oppose random listing of party-list groups on 2013 ballots


Three party-list congressmen on Tuesday opposed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) plan to randomly list and not alphabetize party-list groups on ballots for the 2013 polls.   The random listing of party-list groups will confuse voters in next year’s elections, said Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna.   “Lalong gugulo ang pagboto ng mga tao sa party-list na gusto nilang ihalal,” he said.   “Although the Comelec has the best and has the noblest of intentions on this issue, nagpapagulo lamang sa mga botante kung hindi ito alphabetical,” he said in a text message to reporters.   Last week, Comelec issued a resolution mandating that a raffle should determine the order of party-list groups appearing on ballots for the 2013 elections, with each accredited party-list getting a number assigned to it through the raffle.    Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares said the new system “will cause massive delay in the voting.”   “We do not support this move because this will clog up precincts due to the fact that it will take more time for voters to look for their party-lists,” he said in a separate text message.   As such, Colmenares noted, the new system may deem results of the party-list elections vulnerable to legal questions before the Supreme Court.   Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino agreed the commission should reconsider its plan. He added, however, that the poll body must also get rid of bogus party-lists for next year’s polls.   “Whether the listing is alphabetical or not, the best solution to weed out bogus party-list groups is strict Comelec accreditation of existing and new party-list groups and their nominees,” he said.   Tugna proposed that the Comelec find out if certain party-lists have basis in using the number “1” or the letter “A” in their respective names, or are just using these as a mechanism to land the top spot on the ballot list. —VS, GMA News

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