Comelec junks Malasakit Movement's party-list bid over lack of merit, OKs MOCHA party-list

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) denied the bid of Malasakit Movement to be accredited as a party-list group due to lack of merit, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said Wednesday.

“The Malasakit Movement’s accreditation was denied because they failed to meet the requirement for a sectoral party-list organization,” Jimenez said at a press conference. 

“They [were] unable to prove that they represent a marginalized and underrepresented sector,” Jimenez added.

Malasakit Movement’s first nominee is former Metro Manila Development Authority spokesperson Celine Pialago. 

In an earlier statement, Malasakit Movement said they will avail of legal remedies as a result of their delistment.

"May mga legal na paraan pa po para makalaban sa darating na 2022 elections. Hahayaan ko na po ang aming legal team sa bagay na 'yan," it said.

(There are legal remedies for us to participate in the 2022 polls, and we leave it to our legal team.)

"Kapag mabuti ang hangarin, kapag tama ang pinaglalaban, lalaban. Lalaban po kami dahil hindi po ugali ng Team 96 ang sumuko," it added.

(Our heart is in the right place, and when you fight for what is right, you will fight on. We will fight on because giving up is not in our book.)

Mothers for Change

At the same press briefing, Jimenez said the Comelec approved the accreditation of Mothers for Change as a party-list group.

Mothers for Change’s first two nominees include former Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary and ex-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Executive Director Mocha Uson and volleyball player Michelle Gumabao. 

Neither Uson nor Gumabao are currently mothers.

“They (Mothers for Change) met all the requirements for a sectoral organization. That was the justification of the decision,” Jimenez said. — RSJ, GMA News