Comelec division denies Black and White's accreditation as party-list

(Updated 6:08 p.m.) The Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) first division has denied the accreditation of Black and White Movement, a party-list group believed to be allied with President Benigno Aquino III.

 

In a resolution, the division under Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said Black and White "fails to evidently show through its articles of incorporation, by-laws, history and track record that it represents and seeks to uplift the marginalized sectors of women, youth and urban poor."

 

Sarmiento said Black and White, which claims to represent women, youth and urban poor, is more of an advocacy group than a party-list. The group also endorsed Aquino during the presidential elections. 

 

"Ang reasons for our study is… that it's more of an advocacy group. And [it also has] no track record based on documents that they have to represent the marginalized," Sarmiento said.

 

“Black and White is primarily an advocacy group for good governance… that Black and White advocates ‘that government officials maintain the highest standard of integrity, professionalism and transparency at all times.’…  The by-laws … appears to be pro-forma by-laws and does not mention anything about women, youth and urban poor,” Comelec first division wrote in their resolution, citing the group’s by laws and articles of incorporation.

 

The division also said that while the group “may have involved women, urban poor and youth in this advocacy, their involvement is merely incidental to the advocacy of good governance.” The group also failed to mention its accomplishments pertaining to their sectors’ concerns.  

 

The division – voting 2-0 – noted that the group’s track record merely involved “leadership trainings and workshop seminars.” “While we do not belittle these trainings and seminars as instruments to promote the cause of the youth, these activities are not sufficient to evidently show that Black and White, through its track record, truly represents and seeks to uplift the youth sector,” according to the resolution.

 

Sarmiento also said Black and White's nominees — Movie Television Review and Classification Board member and singer Leah Navarro, Marco Elmer Cabrera, Jose Morales, Mary Shinn Ramos and Nolasco Apolonio — do not belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors the group claims to represent.  Republic Act 7941 or the party-list law aims to open the House of Representatives to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors.

 

Singer Navarro also endorsed Aquino during the 2010 elections. Meanwhile, Black and White president Vicente Romano III was the Department of Tourism undersecretary who resigned in 2010 due to a controversial promotional slogan.  

 

Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. made the announcement regarding Black and White first to clear the reputation of Comelec as an Aquino-leaning body. "Gusto ko rin i-announce dahil mayroong statements na lumi-lean kami sa yellow. Pink kami," he said in jest. 

 

“It’s really more of my discretion why I’m announcing it,” Brillantes added.

 

Black and White should then file a motion for reconsideration (MR) with the Comelec for the first division decision to go up to the en banc.

 

If Black and White fails to submit an MR within five days of notice, they are considered disqualified, Brillantes said.

 

“‘Pag meron kang MR, I think we will be able to resolve it immediately,” he said.  

 

An elections watchdog group Kontra Daya and youth organization Anakbayan has also called for the disqualification of Black and White due to its association with the Aquino government.  — KBK, RSJ, GMA News