Fourteen party-list groups proclaimed winners

Last Friday, May 24, 2013 COMELEC proclaimed fourteen party-list groups who have received 2% of the votes required.

• Buhay
• A Teacher
• Bayan Muna
• 1-CARE
• Akbayan
• Ako Bicol
• Abono
• OFW Family
• Gabriela
• COOP-NATCCO
• Agap
• CIBAC
• Magdalo
• An Waray

COMELEC will continue proclaiming more party-list groups on Monday.

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Father-son rift makes elder Villafuerte endorse Arroyo

Outgoing Governor LRay Villafuerte is pitted against his father's endorsement, re-electionist Dato Arroyo

Family Feud has became literal in Camarines Sur.

Outgoing 3rd District Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte is running for Governor, but he would not be supporting his son, LRay who would be running as Representative for the 2nd District of Camarines Sur. Instead, the elder Villafuerte endorses LRay's opponent, CGMA's son, re-electionist Dato Arroyo.

The elder Villafuerte and Governor LRay had been estranged with each other since 2007. He also opposed the proposed split of Camarines Sur which has been filed by Rep. Villafuerte, Rep. Andaya and Deputy Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella which would have divided Camarines Sur to 2 provinces.

The elder Villafuerte would be pitted with his grandson, Miguel (son of current Governor LRay).

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Atty. Leni Robredo seeks Congress Seat

Photo from PSST Photo Wires



It's final.

The wife of the late DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo, Atty. Ma. Leonor "Leni" Robredo is running for a seat in the House of Representatives to represent the 3rd District of Camarines Sur.

Mrs Robredo filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) at around 3:30 pm on Friday, October 5, the last day of filing of COCs for the 2013 elections.

Mrs. Robredo would have Nelly Favis Villafuerte, wife of outgoing Rep. Luis Villafuerte as an opponent for the 2013 elections. The outgoing Congressman would be running for Governor against his grandson Miguel Villafuerte (son of outgoing Governor LRay Villafuerte who is estranged with his father). (only in the Philippines).

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Old Names, Rivals in LP Senatorial Slate

Nothing is permanent in this world, except change.

Who would have thought that former Las Pinas Representative Cynthia Villar and former Senator Jamby Madrigal would end up in one slate for the 2013 elections. If you can recall the feud of Jamby and Cynthia Villar's husband Senator Manny Villar regarding the C5 road extension project, it is hard to imagine that they are just in one coalition after 3 years.

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First Day of Filing COC: 20 Senators Filed

The following names filed their Certificate of Candidacy for Senators from the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA):

Former Sen Richard Gordon

Former Sen Ernesto Maceda

Former Sen Juan Miguel Zubiri

Zambales Rep Mitos Magsaysay

Cagayan Rep Jack Enrile

Former Tarlac Gov Margarita "Tingting" Cojuangco

San Juan Rep JV Ejercito

Sen Gregorio Honasan

Sen. Loren Legarda (Guest Candidate)

Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, from the Liberal Party filed at 8 am.

Comelec Director James Jimenez describes his colorful aspirants:

Oliver Lozano

Juanito Donato

Merlito Lagata

Remelyn Ajel

Anicio Escusuro

Daniel Magtira

Aeric Bernardino

Melchor Chavez

Salam Lakan Luisong Tagean

Patrocinio Cailing

Lozano and Chavez also joined the 2007 senatorial elections under the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) party.

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Benjamin Abalos out on bail, Comelec still confident

Former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos was allowed to be freed  for 1 Million bail by a local court.

Judge Jesus Mupas of the Pasay City regional trial court Branch 112 granted Abalos his temporary liberty in a ruling he issued Friday.

Even if Chairman Abalos was out on bail, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes is confident that the case will push through.

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Comelec bans replacement of party-list nominees

MANILA, Philippines - Giving a seat to another in the party-list is no longer acceptable as far as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is concerned.

To prevent unqualified candidates from taking over a congressional post, the Comelec has barred party-list (PL) representatives from resigning to allow another nominee to fill the vacant seat.
In a resolution, the Comelec has effectively disallowed term-sharing among party-list members in the middle of the three-year term.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said under the new rules, only untimely death or disqualification of the sitting nominees shall be considered as reasonable grounds to replace the representatives.
“We are now outlawing nominee replacements without valid reason,” Jimenez disclosed.

The Comelec requires party-list groups to submit a maximum of five names as their nominees who are listed from the first to fifth nominees prior to the elections.

The party-list group that garnered at least two percent of the total votes during the polls is entitled to at least one congressional seat or up to a maximum of three seats based on their rankings.

The Comelec, however, observed that some party-list representatives after assuming post would eventually resign in favor of another nominee.

“The term-sharing policy is usually used internally within the (PL) organization. However there would be instances that a representative would resign to accommodate a nominee, which in effect will result to term- sharing. We are now making it explicit that those kinds of arrangements would not be allowed,” Jimenez explained in a mix of Filipino and English.

Jimenez said the poll body adopted the new rule to prevent possible infiltration of “unqualified” nominees through term-sharing.

In past elections, some party-list candidates were accused that they do not truly represent the marginalized group.

Requirements for eligibility include documentary evidences to prove track record of participating in party-list activities; proofs adhering to the group’s advocacies; and certification of being a bona-fide member at least 90 days prior to elections.

- By Mayen Jaymalin, The Philippine Star

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