Velarde's party-list leads in Comelec count, teachers' group second

Buhay Hayaang Yumabon (Buhay) party-list group topped the Commission on Elections (Comelec) first tally of the partial and official count, while Mikey Arroyo's former group Ang Galing Pinoy (AGP) got the least votes.   

Buhay, which was founded by El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde, describes itself on its website as an "organization that acknowledges the sanctity and value of human life as the most fundamental element of society and recognize the rights of individuals disadvantaged by age, sickness and disability." It is represented by Velarde's son, Mariano Michael Velarde.

Based on 110 certificates of canvass covering about 40 million votes, Buhay garnered 1,255,734 votes, while AGP got the last place at 4,110.

Buhay is followed by Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment Through Action Cooperation and Harmony Towards Educational Reforms (A TEACHER) with 1,033,873 votes, Bayan Muna with 945,639 votes, 1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy, Inc. (1-CARE) with 931,303 votes, and Akbayan Citizens' Action party with 820,351 votes.

Ako Bicol placed sixth with 761,115 votes, Abono party-list with 753,161, OFW Family Club with 735,854, Gabriela Women's Party with 706,194, and Coalition of Association of Senior Citizens in the Philippines (SENIOR CITIZENS) with 671,916.

The party-list system is a proportional mode of representation for the marginalized and underrepresented. A group that garners 2 percent of total votes cast gets one seat with a maximum of only three seats.

Around 20 percent of the total membership of Congress is reserved for the party-list system, according to the 1987 Constitution.

A total of 123 party-list groups were included in the ballot but only 111 were allowed by the Comelec to run in the 2013 polls.

The votes for the 12 purged groups have been tallied separately. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/KBK, GMA News