MANILA — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has ordered the official cancellation and delisting of 50 party-list groups for failing to meet mandatory registration and electoral performance requirements under the country’s party-list system.
In Resolution No. 11281 issued on October 15, the poll body stated that 10 groups were removed due to non-participation in the past two successive elections. Meanwhile, 40 other organizations were delisted after failing to secure at least 2 percent of the total votes cast for the party-list system and failing to win a seat during the second round of seat allocation across the same two preceding polls.
Among the groups dropped for skipping the previous two elections are 1AAAP, 1-UTAK, AGBIAG, Ako Ayoko Sa Bawal Na Droga, Filipino Family Party, Grains Retailers’ Confederation of the Philippines Inc. (GRECON), INANGMAHAL, 1-LAMBAT, Luntiang Pilipinas Partylist (LUNTIAN), and One Philippines (1P).
The 40 organizations removed for failing the vote and seat thresholds include well-known names such as Bayan Muna, Magdalo, BUHAY, Maharlikang Pilipino Party (MAHARLIKA), BOSES Party-List, Ako Padayon Pilipino, Ako-OFW, Babae Ako Para Sa Bayan Inc., and United Frontliners of the Philippines.
Other groups on this list are ARTE, Bayan Natin (BANAT), Bisaya Gyud Party-List, Computer Literacy, Innovation, Connectivity and Knowledge Inc. (CLICK Party), Democratic Independent Workers’ Association (DIWA), and Walang Iwanan sa Free Internet Inc. (WIFI).
The poll commission anchored its decision on Section 6(8) of Republic Act No. 7941, commonly known as the Party-List System Act, which authorizes the cancellation of registration for groups that sit out two consecutive elections or fail to meet the required percentage of votes and seat allocations.
Referring to the Supreme Court ruling in Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc. v. COMELEC, the agency emphasized that the two grounds for delisting operate independently and cannot be merged.
Public notice regarding the cancellation was initially posted on the official COMELEC website on October 8, with the resolution taking effect immediately upon publication.
The commission clarified that the mass delisting operates independently from other upcoming electoral processes, such as the filing of manifestations of intent to participate or petitions seeking to cancel or disqualify parties and nominees for the upcoming 2028 national and local elections.
To execute the directive, the COMELEC has instructed the Office of commissions clerk to carry out the resolution and mandated the Education and Information Department to arrange its publication in two newspapers of general circulation.