MANILA — A total of 18 party-list groups on Thursday filed their certificates of nomination and acceptance (CONAs) before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the first day of CONA filing for the 2019 national and local polls.
The first to file was Abono party-list, while the 18th and the last was ACTS-Overseas Filipino Workers following a notary issue on their submitted documents.
Of the 18 party-list groups, eight are incumbents — Abono, Butil, Manila Teachers Savings and Loan Association Inc., Kabayan Partylist, PBA Partylist, Coalition of Association of Senior Citizens, Diwa Partylist and ACTS-OFW.
Meanwhile, the following are the new party-lists — Guardjans, Partidong Bayan ang Bida, Partidong Lakas ng Masa, AKO-Bisdak, ANAC IP, Laang Kawal ng Pilipinas, Sulong Dignidad Partylist, ABE Kapampangan, Pambansang Nagkakaisa sa Paggawa at Agrikultura, and 1-Unified Transport of the Philippines Bicol.
The Comelec will accept CONAs and certificates of candidacy until October 17.
In the past elections, 115 accredited party-lists were allowed to participate in the polls, 46 of which are currently occupying seats in the House of Representatives.
According to Section 5 (2), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution: “The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty per centum of the total number of representatives including those under the party-list. For three consecutive terms after the ratification of this Constitution, one-half of the seats allocated to party-list representatives shall be filled, as provided by law, by selection or election from the labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth, and such other sectors as may be provided by law, except the religious sector.” ( Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA)
