1-CARE gets top slot in Comelec party-list raffle

(Updated 4:43 p.m.) The 1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy, Inc. (1-CARE), a group representing energy consumers, will be the first party-list group to be seen by voters on the ballot for the 2013 national and local elections. This was after Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. drew 1-CARE's number during the raffle for party-list slots held at the poll body's main office in Intramuros, Manila, on Friday afternoon. As of posting time, the order shall be as follows: 1 1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy, Inc. (1-CARE) 2 Arts and Business Professionals (ABS) 3 Pasang Masda Nationwide Party (PASANG MASDA) 4 OFW Family Club (OFW Family) 5 Magdalo Para sa Pilipino 6 Alyansa ng Media at Showbiz (AMS) 7 Abono Party-list (ABONO) 8 Bayani Party-list (BAYANI) 9 Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment Through Action Cooperation and Harmony Towards Educational Reforms (A TEACHER) 10 Pilipinos with Disabilities (PWD) 11 Ang Lapian ng Mangingisda at Bayan Tungo sa Kaunlaran (1-LAMBAT) 12 Alliance of Advocates in Mining Advancement for National Progress (AAMA) 13 Bagong Henerasyon (BH) 14 SANLAKAS (SANLAKAS) 15 Aksyon Magsasaka-Partido Tinig ng Masa (AKMA-PTM) 16 Ako An Bisaya Party (AAB) 17 Kabataan Party-list (KABATAAN) 18 Ako Bicol Political Party (AKB) 19 Ang Agrikultura Natin Isulong (AANI) 20 United Movement Against Drugs Foundation (UNI-MAD) 21 Action League of Indigenous Masses (ALIM) 22 Alay Buhay Community Development Foundation Inc. (ALAY BUHAY) 23 An Waray (AN WARAY) 24 Alagad ng Sining (ASIN) 25 Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) 26 96 Film 24K Association Inc. (FIRM 24-K) 27 Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP) 28 Ang Ladlad (ANG LADLAD) 29 Advance Community Development in New Generation (ADING) 30 Abante Retirees Party-list Organization (ABANTE RETIREES) 31 1-ABILIDAD (1-ABILIDAD) 32 Katribu Indigenous Peoples Sectoral Party (KATRIBU) 33 Philippine Coconut Producers Federation (COCOFED) 34 Alab ng Mamamahayag (ALAM) 35 Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba (ATING KOOP) 36 Association of Guard, Utility Helper, Aider, Rider, Driver/Domestic Helper, Janitor, Agent, annd Nanny of the Philippines, Inc. (GUARDJAN) 37 Piston Land Transport Coalition, Inc. (PISTON) 38 Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines (AGAP) 39 Agbiag Timpuyog Ilocano, Inc. (AGBIAG) 40 Association of Laborers and Employees (ALE) 41 Abyan Ilonggo (ABYAN ILONGGO) 42 Ang Prolife (Ang Prolife) 43 Alliance of Volunteer Educators Party-list (AVE) 44 Binhi Partido ng mga Magsasaka para sa mga Magsasaka (BINHI) 45 Alliance of Organizations, Networks and Associations of the Philippines (ALONA) 46 Ating Guro (ATING GURO) 47 Partido ng Bayan and Bida (PBB) 48 Association of Righteousness Advocacy on Leadership (ARAL) 49 Act Teachers Party-list (ACT TEACHERS) 50 Butil Farmers Party (BUTIL) 51 Cooperative Natcco Network Party (COOP NATCCO) 52 Veterans Freedom Party (VFP) 53 Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support, Inc. (ACT-CIS) 54 Gabriela Women's Party (GABRIELA) 55 A Action Moral and Values Recovery Reform Philippines, Inc. (1-AAMOVER) 56 Anak Mindanao Party-list (AMIN) 57 Ugnayan ng Maralita Laban sa Kahirapan (UMALAB KA) 58 Alyansa ng OFW Party (ALYANSA NG OFW) 59 Abakada-Guro (ABAKADA) 60 You Against Corruption and Poverty (YACAP) 61 Action Brotherhood for Active Dreamers, Inc. (ABROAD) 62 Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan All Filipino Democractic Movement (KAAKBAY) 63 Pilipinas Para sa Pinoy (PPP) 64 Aagapay sa Matatanda (AMA) 65 Association of Marine Officer and Ratings, Inc. (AMOR SEAMAN) 66 Ang National Coalition of Indigenous Peoples Action Na (ANAC-IP) 67 Ang Partido ng mga Pilipinong Marino, Inc. (ANGKLA) 68 Atong Paglaum, Inc. (ATONG PAGLAUM) 69 1-Alliance Advocating of Marginalized Group, Inc. (1-AAAP) 70 Alyansang Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka, Manggagawang Bukid at Mangingisda (ABA) 71 Ang Asosasyon Sang Mangguguma Nga Bisaya-Owa Mangunguma, Inc. (AAMBIS-OWA) 72 Isang Alyansang Aalalay sa Pinoy (1-AALALAY) 73 Abante Katutubo, Inc. (ABANTE KA) 74 1 BANAT & AHAPO Party-list Coalition (1BAP) 75 The True Marcos Loyalist (for God, Country, and People) (BANTAY) 76 1-Bro Philippine Guardians Brotherhood, Inc. (BRO-PGBI) 77 Alliance for Philippine Security Guards Cooperative (AFPSGCO) 78 Agapay ng Indigenous Peoples Rights Alliance (A-IPRA) 79 Bayan Muna (BAYAN MUNA) 80 Ang Kalikasan Party-list (KALIKASAN) 81 Mamamayan Tungo sa Maunlad na Pilipinas (MTM PHILS) 82 Kasangga sa Kaunalaran, Inc. (ANG KASANGGA) 83 Akbay Kalusugan (AKIN) 84 LPG Marketers Association, Inc. (LPGMA) 85 ANG MINERO 86 Kasosyo Producer (AA KASOSYO) 87 Una ang Pamilya Party-list (1 ANG PAMILYA) 88 1st Kabagis (1ST KABAGIS) 89 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-UTAK) 90 Democratic Independent Workers Assocition, Inc. (DIWA) 91 Alliance for Rural Concerns (ARC) 92 Citizens' Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) 93 Agila ng Katutubong Pilipino, Inc. (AGILA) 94 1 Guardians Nationalist Philippines, Inc. (1GANAP/GUARDIANS) 95 Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Tekonolohiya para sa Mamamayan, Inc. (AGHAM) 96 Migrante Sectoral Party of Overseas Filipinos and their Families (MIGRANTE) 97 Anti-War Anti-Terror Mindanao (AWAT Mindanao) 98 Alliance Lumad Mindanao, Inc. (ALLUMAD) 99 Abante Tribung Makabanda (ATM)   100 Pilipino Association for Country-Urban Poor Youth Advanement and Welfare (PACYAW) 101 Manila Teachers Savings and Loan Association, Inc. (MANILA TEACHERS) 102 Association of Local Athletics Entre[reneurs and Hobbyists, Inc. (ALA-EH) 103 Kababaihang Lingkod Bayan sa Pilipinas (KLBP) 104 Ating Agapay Sentrong Samahan ng mg Obrero, Inc. (AASENSO) 105 Ang Galing Pinoy (AG) 106 Alagad (ALAGAD) 107 Blessed Federation of Farmers and Fishermen International, Inc (A BLESSED) 108 Ang Mata's Alagaan (AMA) 109 AkapBata Sectoral Organization for Children, Inc. (AKAPBATA INC.) 110 Social Movement for Active Reform and Transparency (SMART) 111 Alliance of Bicolnon Party (ABP) 112 Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) 113 Agrarian Development Association (ADA) 114 Alliance for Rural and Agrarian Reconstruction Inc. (ARARO) 115 Kaagapay ng Nagkakaisang Agilang Pilipinong Magsasaka (KAP) 116 Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) 117 Akbayan Citizens' Action Party (AKBAYAN) 118 Social Amelioration and Genuine Intervention on Poverty (1-SAGIP) 119 1 Joint Alliance of Marginalized Group, Inc. (1JAMG) 120 Adhikain at Kilusan ng Ordinaryong Tao Para sa Lupa, Pabahay, Hanapbuhay at Kaunlaran (AKO BAHAY) 121 Adhikain ng mg Dakilang Anak Maharlika (ADAM) 122 Ako Ayoko sa Bawal na Droga (AKO) 123 Abante Mindanao (ABAMIN) 124 Append, Inc. (APPEND) 125 Agri-Agra na Reporma para sa Magsasaka ng Pilipinas Movement (AGRI) 126 Aangat Tayo (AT) 127 Ang Nars (ANG NARS) 128 Green Force for the Enviroment Sons and Daughters of Mother Earth (GREENFORCE) 129 Coalition of Association of Senior Citizens in the Philippines (SENIOR CITIZENS) 130 Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino (ALIF) 131 Kalinga (KALINGA) 132 Anakpawis (ANAKPAWIS) 133 Isang Pangarap ng Bahay sa Bagong Buhay ng Maralitang Kababayan, Inc. (1-PABAHAY) 134 Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala (KAKUSA) 135 Buhay Hayaan Yumabong (BUHAY) 136 Abang Lingkod Party-list (ABANG LINGKOD) Immediately after the raffle, however, Brillantes announced that the order is not yet final since they noticed that at least 13 groups should have not been included in the raffle. "Lahat ng new applicants na hindi namin in-accredit pero nakakuha ng SQA [status quo ante order ng Supreme Court] hindi dapat kasama pa, ang aming count is 13, ifa-finalize namin ngayon," he said. "[So] while we raffled 136 today, this is not a final listing," he added. Brillantes refused to give the names of the groups and said they will still have to discuss what should be done since some slots will be vacated when the said groups are removed from the listing. First time It was the first time the Comelec raffled out the slots for party-list groups. In 2010, the groups were listed alphabetically on the ballot. Before that, the ballot only provided a blank for the voter to write the name of the party-list he or she is voting for.   The raffling of slots was in accordance with Comelec Resolution 9467 issued in June 2012.   "To level the playing field and to avoid the unusual increase of party-list groups or organizations with 1 or A, the Commission decided to conduct this raffle in an open, transparent and public atmosphere, a raffle that is observed through with variations in other parts of the globe," Comelec commissioner Rene Sarmiento said before the raffle. "The purpose is to avoid this very abnormal names of the party-lists na punong-puno ng 'A' o puro '1'. Ngayon hindi na importante kung '1' o 'A' o maski na anong letra ang ilagay mo doon because what counts now is the number," added Brillantes. Although noting that the ballot order does not really determine the winners in the party-list race, Brillantes said they will probably conduct the raffle every year. Of the 187 party-list groups allowed to run in the 2010 elections, 103 had names starting with “A” while 12 start with “1.” Of the 28 proclaimed winners in the 2010 elections, 15 groups had names that started with “A” while one started with “1”. In four elections preceding the 2010 polls, almost half or 36 of the 74 winning groups had names that started with “A”.  They were followed by 12 groups with names that started with “B”. — Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News