A quick check-list of the things you need to know if you want to throw your hat into the Party-List System
1. How may a party, organization, or coalition participate in the PL elections?
- An organized group NOT YET REGISTERED with the COMELEC may participate by FILING A PETITION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER OATH. The deadline for this is MARCH 30, 2012.
- An organized group already registered simply has to file a MANIFESTATION OF INTENTION TO PARTICIPATE in the PL Elections. No period for this filing has yet been set, although it typically coincides with the period for filing individual certificates of candidacy.
2. What are the documents need to support a petition for registration?
- The organization’s Constitution and by-Laws;
- Its platform or program of government;
- A list of officers and members, particularly showing that the majority of its membership belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sector /s it seeks to represent;
- A track record summary showing that it represents and seeks to uplift the marginalized and underrepresented sector /s it seeks to represent;
- The coalition agreement, if any; and
- Such other information as may be required by the Commission.
3. How to file the petition for registration?
The petition for registration, SIGNED BY THE PARTY’S PRESIDENT OR SEC-GEN shall be filed with the Clerk of the Commission, at the COMELEC main office in Intramuros, Manila.
- For petitions involving a party with a NATIONAL CONSTITUENCY, file in 25 COPIES;
- For petitions involving a party with a REGIONAL CONSTITUENCY, file in 12 COPIES;
- Nominal fees will be levied
4. What happens after filing?
The Clerk of the Commission will determine if the petition is in due form and substance and VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF THE ALLEGATIONS contained in the petition. WITHIN SEVEN DAYS FROM THE FILING OF THE PETITIONS FOR REGISTRATION, THE CLERK SHALL SUBMIT ALL PETITIONS RECEIVED – TOGETHER WITH ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS – TO THE COMMISSION.
The gist of the petition shall be PUBLISHED IN TWO NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS, AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PETITIONER.
After due notice and hearing, the Commission shall RESOLVE THE PETITION WITHIN FIFTEEN DAYS FROM THE DATE IT WAS SUBMITTED FOR DECISION, BUT NOT LATER THAN 120 DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY.
5. Can a petition be denied?
Absolutely. The Commission may, motu proprio or upon a verified petition of any interested party, refuse to give due course to a petition if it is shown that the petition has been filed:
- To put the election process in mockery or disrepute; or
- To cause confusion among the voters by the similarity of names of registered parties or by other circumstances or acts which clearly demonstrate that the petitioner has no bona fide intention to represent the sector for which the petition was filed in the first place.
A VERIFIED PETITION to declare a duly registered party as a nuisance may be filed directly with the Clerk of the Commission by any registered party WITHIN FIVE DAYS FROM THE LAST DAY OF FILING PETITIONS FOR REGISTRATION.
6. For the purpose of determining “regional constituency,” what is meant by the phrase “spread over the geographical territory of at least a majority of the cities and provinces comprising the region?”
In this context, “majority” means a number higher than fifty percent. Thus, if the region consists of, for instance, five cities and six provinces, the party should have chapters in three cities and provincial offices in four provinces.
7. For the purpose of determining “national constituency,” what is meant by the phrase “spread over the geographical territory of at least a majority of the regions?”
In this context, “majority” means a number higher than fifty percent of the country’s regions, including CAR, ARMM, and CARAGA.
8. What information is necessary to establish the existence of a party in a city or municipality?
A party must have identifiable leadership, membership, and structure which may be shown by:
- The address of its city chapter and provincial chapter; and
- The names of the chapter officials and members, and their addresses.
Additional documents may be submitted, of course.
