3 more previously disqualified party-lists allowed to join May 13 polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has added three more previously disqualified party-list groups to the list of those that can participate in the May 13 elections based on the parameters set by the Supreme Court. “After hearing and deliberation, we APPROVED three (3) more party-list groups namely: 1-UTAK, PACYAW, and PASANG MASDA,” poll chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. tweeted Thursday evening. "With this, a total of 124 party-list groups will be joining the 2013 Party-List Elections. Choose wisely!" he added. The poll body had earlier approved the participation of 24 party-list groups also based on the high court's parameters:   1. 1 CARE 2. BAYANI 3. AAMA 4. AKMA-PTM 5. AKB 6. AANI 7. UNIMAD 8. ALIM 9. FIRM 24-K 10. ARAL 11. BUTIL 12. ABROAD 13. 1BRO PGBI 14. ARC 15. 1GANAP 16. A BLESSED 17. ABP 18. ARARO 19. APEC 20. AKO BAHAY 21. AGRI 22. AANGAT TAYO 23. GREEN FORCE 24. KAKUSA   The Comelec has earlier disallowed the aforementioned groups from joining the elections for allegedly not truly representing the marginalized sector they claim to be part of. The party-list groups, however, sought the help of the Supreme Court and got a favorable decision early April when their case was remanded to the Comelec, which was ordered to conduct “evidentiary hearings” based on the new parameters adopted by the high tribunal.   Among these parameters was that ational parties or organizations and regional parties or organizations do not need to organize along sectoral lines and do not need to represent “any marginalized and underrepresented” sector. The court also said political parties can participate in party-list elections provided they register under the party-list system and do not field candidate in legislative district elections. — Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News