COMELEC RAFFLE. 136 groups join the historic party-list raffle on Friday, but only 123 remain on the ballot after a clerical error. Photo by Paterno Esmaquel II

MANILA, Philippines – Does the number 16 follow 15?

Not necessarily, when it comes to the party-list slots on the ballot in 2013. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) may skip some numerical slots after it revised the results of the party-list raffle held last January 4, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said.

The Comelec on Monday, January 7, withdrew 13 names from the ballot after it erroneously included them in the unprecedented raffle for party-list slots. In a resolution, the Comelec said it may re-raffle these slots to other disqualified groups that will get a Supreme Court (SC) reprieve by Friday, January 11.

There's a chance that the SC will no longer rule in favor of any more party-list group, in which case the vacant slots remain vacant. Otherwise, they will have to be accommodated in the ballot as long as the SC orders meet the January 11 cut-off.

Of the 123 groups that received ballot slots, 39 have pending SC petitions after the Comelec disqualified them from the party-list race.

In a phone interview with Rappler, Jimenez raised the likelihood that "the numbers might skip."

He quelled fears that this could lead to confusion come election day.

CLERICAL ERROR. Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr refuses to validate the results of the party-list raffle on Friday, saying it erroneously included 13 groups. Photo by Paterno Esmaquel II

“Hindi ko nakikitang mas magulo, kasi kunyari, 'pag hinanap mo ang kandidatong number 14, hindi mo naman pagbabasehan ang slots. Hindi mo naman bibilangin 'yung slots. You're gonna count 14 down, tapos 'yun ang iboboto mo? Hahanapin mo 'yung numerong 14,” Jimenez explained.

(I don't see it to be more confusing, because for example, if you look for candidate number 14, you won't base it on the number of slots. You won't count the slots – like you're gonna count 14 down, then you will vote for that. You will look for the number 14.)

'Voters have to know'

What about groups whose disqualification the SC might uphold after ballot-printing?

“Definitely, the voters will have to know which ones are under a cloud of doubt,” said Jimenez, referring to groups that got included in the ballot only because the SC issued a status quo ante (SQA) order in their favor.

He said the Comelec, however, will discuss how to do this without causing undue advantage to the groups involved. “We're concerned that if we single out these groups concerned, they might complain and say the Comelec is campaigning to have them removed, which is unfair to them," Jimenez said in a mix of English and Filipino.

If the SC will no longer issue SQAs on or before January 11, the 2013 ballot will follow this sequence for party-list groups, based on the raffle last January 4. (See downloadable illustration and text below)

 

1-CARE - 1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy Inc

ABS – Arts Business and Science Professionals

PASANG MASDA – Pasang Masda Nationwide Party

OFW Family – OFW Family Club Inc

MAGDALO – Magdalo para sa Pilipino

AMS – Alyansa ng Media at Showbiz

ABONO – Abono Party-list

BAYANI – Bayani Party-list

A TEACHER – Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment through Action, Cooperation, and Harmony Towards Educational Reforms

PWD – Pilipinos with Disabilities

1-LAMBAT – Isang Lapian ng Mangingisda at Bayan tungo sa Kaunlaran

AAMA – Alliance of Advocates in Mining Advancement for National Progress

BH – Bagong Henerasyon

SANLAKAS

AKMA-PTM – Aksyon Magsasaka-Partido Tinig ng Masa

– VACANT SLOT –

KABATAAN – Kabataan Party-list

AKB – Ako Bicol Political Party

AANI – Ang Agrikultura Natin Isulong

UNI-MAD – United Movement Against Drugs Foundation

ALIM – Action League of Indigenous Masses

ALAY BUHAY – Alay Buhay Community Development Foundation Incs

AN WARAY – An Waray

– VACANT SLOT –

PBA – Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta

FIRM 24-K – Firm-24K Association Inc

TUCP – Trade Union Congress Party

ANG LADLAD

ADING – Advance Community Development in New Generation

ABANTE RETIREES – Abante Retirees Party-list Organization

1-ABILIDAD

KATRIBU – Katribu Indigenous Peoples Sectoral Party

COCOFED – Philippine Coconut Producers' Federation Inc

– VACANT SLOT –

ATING KOOP – Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba

– VACANT SLOT –

PISTON – Piston Land Transport Coalition Inc

AGAP – Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines

AGBIAG – Agbiag Timpuyog Ilocano Inc

ALE – Association of Laborers and Employees

– VACANT SLOT –

ANG PROLIFE

AVE – Alliance of Volunteer Educators Party-list

BINHI – Binhi-Partido ng mga Magsasaka para sa mga Magsasaka

– VACANT SLOT –

ATING GURO

– VACANT SLOT –

ARAL – Association of Righteousness Advocacy on Leadership

ACT TEACHERS – Act Teachers Party-list

BUTIL – Butil Farmers Party

COOP NATCCO – Cooperative Natcco Network Party

VFP – Veterans Freedom Party

ACT-CIS – Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support Inc

GABRIELA – Gabriela Women's Party

1-AAMOVER – A Action Moral & Values Recovery Reform Philippines Inc

AMIN – Anak Mindanao Party-list

UMALAB KA – Ugnayan ng Maralita Laban sa Kahirapan

ALYANSA NG OFW – Alyansa ng OFW Party-list

ABAKADA – Abakada-Guro

YACAP – You Against Corruption and Poverty

ABROAD – Action Brotherhood for Active Dreamers Inc

KAAKBAY – Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan All Filipino Democratic Movement

– VACANT SLOT –

AMA – Aagapay sa Matatanda

AMOR SEAMAN – Association of Marine Officer & Ratings Inc

ANAC-IP – Ang National Coalition of Indigenous Peoples Action Na

ANGKLA – Ang Partido ng mga Pilipinong Marino Inc

ATONG PAGLAUM – Atong Paglaum Inc

– VACANT SLOT –

ABA – Alyansang Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka, Manggagawang Bukid, at Mangingisda

AAMBIS-OWA – Ang Asosasyon Sang Mangunguma Nga Bisaya-Owa Mangunguma Inc

1-AALALAY – Isang Alyansang Aalalay sa Pinoy

ABANTE KA – Abante Katutubo Inc

1BAP – 1 Banat & Ahapo Party-list Coalition

BANTAY – The True Marcos Loyalist for God, Country, and People

1 BRO-PGBI – 1-Bro Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc

AFPSEGCO – Alliance for Philippine Security Guards Cooperative

A-IPRA – Agapay ng Indigenous Peoples' Rights Alliance

BAYAN MUNA

– VACANT SLOT –

MTM PHILS – Mamamayan tungo sa Maunlad na Pilipinas

ANG KASANGGA – Kasangga sa Kaunlaran Inc

– VACANT SLOT –

LPGMA – LPG Marketers Association Inc

ANG MINERO – Sectoral Party of Ang Minero

AA KASOSYO – Kasosyo Producer

1 ANG PAMILYA – Una ang Pamilya Party-list

1st KABAGIS

1-UTAK – 1-United Transport Koalisyon

DIWA – Democratic Independent Workers Association Inc

ARC – Alliance for Rural Concerns

CIBAC – Citizens' Battle Against Corruption

AGILA – Agila ng Katutubong Pilipino Inc

1GANAP/GUARDIANS – 1 Guardians Nationalist Philippines Inc

AGHAM – Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan Inc

MIGRANTE – Migrante Sectoral Party of Overseas Filipinos and their Families

AWAT Mindanao – Anti-War Anti-Terror Mindanao

ALLUMAD – Alyansa Lumad Mindanao Inc

ATM – Abante Tribung Makabansa

PACYAW – Pilipino Association for Country-Urban Poor Youth Advancement and Welfare

– VACANT SLOT –

– VACANT SLOT –

KLBP – Kababaihang Lingkod ng Bayan sa Pilipinas

AASENSO – Ating Agapay Sentrong Samahan ng mga Obrero Inc

AG – Ang Galing Pinoy

ALAGAD

A BLESSED – Blessed Federation of Farmers and Fishermen International Inc

AMA – Ang Mata'y Alagaan

AKAPBATA Inc – Akapbata Sectoral Organization for Children Inc

SMART – Social Movement for Active Reform and Transparency

ABP – Alliance of Bicolnon Party

ANAD – Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy

ADA – Agrarian Development Association

ARARO – Alliance for Rural and Agrarian Reconstruction Inc

KAP – Kaagapay ng Nagkakaisang Agilang Pilipinong Magsasaka

APEC – Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives

AKBAYAN – Akbayan Citizens' Action Party

1-SAGIP – Social Amelioration & Genuine Intervention on Poverty

1JAMG – 1 Joint Alliance of Marginalized Group Inc

AKO BAHAY – Adhikain at Kilusan ng Ordinaryong Tao para sa Lupa, Pabahay, Hanapbuhay, at Kaunlaran

ADAM – Adhikain ng mga Dakilang Anak Maharlika

AKO – Ako Ayoko sa Bawal na Droga

ABAMIN – Abante Mindanao

APPEND – Append Inc

AGRI – Agri-Agra na Reporma para sa Magsasaka ng Pilipinas Movement

AT – Aangat Tayo

ANG NARS

GREENFORCE – Green Force for the Environment Sons and Daughters of Mother Earth

SENIOR CITIZENS – Coalition of Association of Senior Citizens in the Philippines

ALIF – Ang Laban ng Indigenong Filipino

KALINGA

ANAKPAWIS

1-PABAHAY – Isang Pangarap ng Bahay sa Bagong Buhay ng Maralitang Kababayan Inc

KAKUSA – Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang-sala

BUHAY – Buhay Hayaang Yumabong

ABANG LINGKOD – Abang Lingkod Party-list

In an unprecedented move this year, the Comelec purged the list of party-list applications, and slashed the number of applicants to 84 from the original 289. Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr initiated this electoral reform, which is considered a milestone.

Source: http://www.rappler.com/nation/19302-confusing-ballot-for-party-list