DELISTED party-list organizations have until December 30 to petition for reinstatement, but the Commission on Elections (Comelec) warned that past accreditation will offer no shortcut back onto the ballot.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia emphasized that while the poll body is open to receiving new petitions-noting that delisting is not permanent-every applicant will face a rigorous, fresh evaluation.
‘They can refile their petitions because their delisting is not permanent,’ Garcia said in a recent radio interview, adding that groups may adjust their leadership, update officer lists, or form coalitions as part of their bid for reaccreditation.
However, historical participation or prior approval will not grant applicants an advantage.
‘We will look at your track record,’ Garcia stressed, noting that former accreditation carries no additional weight during screening.
The poll body plans to scrutinize past electoral performance, specifically evaluating whether groups consistently mobilize enough votes to secure seats in the House of Representatives. Garcia openly questioned whether organizations that repeatedly draw a mere 5,000 votes can legitimately claim to represent marginalized sectors.
‘We will be very strict in registering them,’ Garcia added, framing the heightened scrutiny as a safeguard against affluent or influential figures exploiting the party-list system for congressional seats.
The warning follows Comelec’s recent cancellation of 50 party-list registrations.
Of those removed, 10 failed to field candidates in the last two consecutive elections, while 40 were dropped for failing to secure the required vote thresholds and seats. Comelec aims to resolve all accreditation and reinstatement petitions in the coming year.