Comelec names eight major political parties in 2016 elections

The Commission on Elections has released the names of the eight major political parties and six major local parties in the May 9 national and local elections.

In Resolution No. 10094, the Comelec said the eight major political parties are the following:

• Nacionalista Party (NP)
• Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC)
• Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban)
• Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP)
• Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD)
• Aksyon Demokratiko
• National Unity Party (NUP).

The six major local parties are the following:

• Kusog Baryohanon (KB) for Davao del Norte
• United Negros Alliance (UNEGA) for Negros Occidental
• Partido Abe Kapampangan (PAK) for Angeles City
• Arangkada San Joseno (ASJ) for San Jose del Monte City
• Achievement with Integrity Movement (AIM) for General Santos City
• Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran (KABAKA) for the National Capital Region (NCR).

The major national parties are entitled to get the ninth to 16th copies of election returns (ERs) in every polling precincts, as well as the 9th to 16th copies of all Certificates of Canvass (COCs).

They can also deploy official watchers in polling places and canvassing centers.

The major local parties are entitled to receive the 19th and 20th copies of the ERs and COCs in their respective provinces or regions.

Earlier, the Comelec announced that the Liberal Party (LP) and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) were named as the dominant majority and minority parties respectively.

The criteria used by the Comelec in determing the major parties include the parties' records of performance in past elections; number of incumbent elective officials; identifiable political organizations and strengths as seen in their organized chapters; ability to field a complete slate of candidates from the local to national positions; and other analogous circumstances. —NB, GMA News