Party-list Groups File Motion to Expedite Proclamation of Winners May 29, 2010 By Janess Ann J. Ellao

Party-list Groups File Motion to Expedite Proclamation of Winners

Published on May 29, 2010

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com

The procedures in the canvassing of party list votes is the same as for the other positions, said Commission on Elections Commissioner James Jimenez. And the one thing that keeps them from immediately proclaiming the initial winners is the computation to determine who among the party-list groups have gathered enough votes to get seats, as provided for by Republic Act No. 7941 or the Party List System Act.

“If we announce the winners early when the voting base is still low, some proclaimed winners might be surprised that they have been removed from the list of winners after all election returns have been canvassed and the actual number of party-list votes cast have been counted,” Jimenez told Bulatlat.

Party list representatives constitute no more than twenty percent of the total number of members of the Lower House. With 285 district representatives, there should be 57 seats reserved for party list groups in Congress. Party-list groups that have garnered two percent of the total party list votes gains a seat, up to a maximum of three.

On Tuesday May 25, Comelec announced that they would proclaiming the top ten party lists groups that have garnered two percent of the party-list votes. However by Thursday May 28, Comelec moved the proclamation to Monday May 31 because, its officials said, they have only canvassed 96 percent of the total party-list votes.

But for party list groups, there is no need to wait that long. Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis, Kabataan, Bagong Henerasyon, Cibac and other party list groups, filed a motion before Comelec to proclaim two seats each for the top twelve party-list groups that have garnered at least two percent of the party-list votes,
The top twelve party list groups are Ako Bicol, Senior Citizens, Buhay, Akbayan, Gabriela, Coop-Natcco, 1-Care, Abono, Bayan Muna, An Waray, Cibac and A Teacher..... MORE  

  Source: Bulatlat.com

  URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/05/29/party-list-groups-file-motion-to-expedite-proclamation-of-winners/