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Comelec to determine dominant majority, minority party for May polls on Thursday


The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to hear Thursday morning the petition filed by different political parties to be recognized as dominant majority party, dominant minority party, 10 major national parties, and two major local parties for the May 13 polls. Among those who seek to be a dominant majority party are Liberal Party and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) while Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas CMD) applied to be recognized as a dominant minority party. Nacionalista Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition and National Unity Party filed petitions to be one of the major national parties. Those seeking to be major local parties are Kusog Baryohan, Kapanalig at Kambilan Ning Memmalen Pampanga (Kambilan), United Negros Alliance, Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (Hugpong) Davao City, Partido Abe Kapampangan (PAK), and Arangkada San Joseno Political Party.    The Comelec will determine the dominant majority party, dominant minority party, 10 major national parties and two major local parties based on:

  • established record of the said parties, coalition, of groups that now composed them, taking into account, among other things, their showing in past elections;
  • the number of incumbent elective officials belonging to them 90 days before the date of election;
  • their identifiable political organizations and strengths as evidenced by their organized chapters;
  • the ability to fill a complete slate of candidates from the municipal level to the position of the President (Senators); and other analogous circumstances that may determine their relative organizations and strengths.
The parties that will be accredited will be given copies of the election returns and certificate of canvass based on Section 19 and Section 21 of Republic Act No. 9369 or Poll Automation Law. Section 26 of RA 7166 or Synchronized National and Local Elections and Electoral Reforms Act states that the dominant majority party and dominant minority party shall each be entitled to one official watcher who shall be paid a fixed per diem of P400. “There shall also be recognized six principal watchers, representing the six accredited major political parties excluding the dominant majority and minority parties, who shall be designated by the Commission upon nomination of the said parties,” the provision further states.  — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News
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