MANILA — The administration party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), has been declared as the Dominant Majority Party for Monday’s mid-term elections.
Based on Resolution 10538 promulgated Wednesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the political party of President Rodrigo Duterte was named as such for getting the highest weight average points totaling to 55.74 points, after the computation done using its criteria.
On the other hand, the Nacionalista Party (NP) of former senator Manny Villar was declared as Dominant Minority Party for getting 35.87 points.
Under the law, Dominant Majority and Minority Parties are entitled to get the fifth and sixth copies of election returns (ERs), respectively, to be produced by the vote counting machines.
Also, the PDP-Laban and NP will receive electronically-transmitted precinct results; get the seventh and eighth copies of the Certificates of Canvass (COCs), respectively.
The parties are allowed to assign official watchers in every polling places and canvassing centers.
In the 2016 elections, the Liberal Party (LP) and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) have been named as the dominant majority and minority parties, respectively.
Based on the criteria set by the Comelec, political parties that will field at least 30 percent women candidates shall be given the weighted average points of 10 points.
A total of 40 points, the highest point to be given, to the political group’s ability to field a complete slate of candidates from the municipal level up to the position of senator.
Other criteria include a party’s organizational structure (20 points), the number of its incumbent elective officials (20 points), and their established record in past elections (10 points).
The Comelec also determined the following as Major National Parties: LP, Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), UNA, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), Workers and Peasants Party (WPP), Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), National Unity Party (NUP), and Aksyon Demokratiko.
As major national parties, they are entitled to get the 9th to 18th copies of election returns (ERs) in every polling precincts, as well as 9th to 18th copies of all Certificates of Canvass (COCs), and can deploy official watchers in every polling place and canvassing centers.
The NP, NPC, PDP-Laban, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), LDP, Lakas-CMD, Aksyon Demokratiko, and NUP were declared as the major national parties in 2016.
On the other hand, the poll body also approved the petitions filed by 12 local political parties to be declared as the Major Local Parties.
They are Arangkada San Joseño Political Party for San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan; Asenso Manileño Movement for City of Manila; Bileg Party for Ilocos Sur; Hugpong ng Pagbabago for Davao Region; Hugpong sa Tawing Lungsod for Davao City; Malayang Kilusan ng mga Mamamayang Zambaleño for Zambales; Partido Abe Kapampangan for Angeles City, Pampanga; Partido Navoteño for Navotas City; Serbisyo sa Bayan Party for Quezon City; Sulong Dignidad for Makati City; Unang Sigaw for Nueva Ecija; and Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran for National Capital Region.
As the accredited major local parties, they will be given the 19th and 20th copies of the ERs and COCs in their respective provinces or region. (PNA)
