MANILA, Philippines --- The Black and White Movement, a party-list group reportedly associated with President Aquino, can no longer participate in the 2013 midterm polls after its application for accreditation was again denied by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), bring to 80 the total number of disqualified parties.

This was announced yesterday by Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, who was among those sealed the fate of the pro-Aquino group in next year’s elections.

Sarmiento said they disqualified the Black and White Movement since it does not represent and seek to uplift the marginalized sector.

The commission en banc voted 5-2, denying the motion for reconsideration filed by the Black and White Movement questioning its earlier decision to disqualify the party-list group.

“Two members of the en banc took no part in the voting but I cannot say who they (commissioners) are,” said Sarmiento.

Apart from Sarmiento, the other commissioners who affirmed the en banc’s earlier decision were Commissioners Lucenito Tagle, Elias Yusoph, Armando Velasco, including Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr.

Two commissioners namely Christian Robert Lim and Grace Padaca were among those who abstained from the voting.

Sarmiento, Velasco and Lim are all members of the Comelec First Division, which disqualified the Black and White Movement in its decision last Oct. 29.

“There is no problem as to the sectors which Black and White seeks to represent. The petition categorically states that ‘the Black and White Political Party is an organized group of women, youth, and urban poor who are committed to ensuring a democratic government that is just and accountable,’” the decision read.

“However, Black and White failed to evidently show through its articles of incorporation, by-laws, history, and track record that it represents and seeks to uplift the marginalized sectors of women, youth, and urban poor,” it added.

Based on the Comelec’s updated list, the disqualification of Black and White Movement brought the total number of new party-list groups that can’t join next year’s midterm polls to 80 while at least five others were approved.

The group’s nominees are identified as Movie and Television Review and Classification Board member Leah Navarro, Marco Elmer Cabrera, Jose Morales, Mary Shinn Ramos, and Nolasco Apolonio.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/382641/comelec-rejects-black-and-white#.UK-9DVIcfIV