Last day for filing petitions for registration of political parties

RESOLUTION No. 9294

IN THE MATTER OF THE LAST DAY FOR FILING PETITIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES, AND PETITIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF PARTIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND COALITIONS UNDER THE PARTY-LIST SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATION

(Promulgation:  07 October 2012)

WHEREAS, during the May 10, 2010 automated elections, the Commission experienced administrative problems in the processing of numerous petitions for registration of political parties, and petitions for registration of parties, organizations and coalitions under the party-list system of representation;

WHEREAS, a repeated administrative problem may again be encountered due to time constraint on the processing, hearing and resolutions on petition for registration of political parties, or petitions for registration of parties, organizations or coalitions under the party-list system of representation to determine their participation in the May 13, 2013 elections;

WHEREAS, the Omnibus Election Code does not provide when a petition for registration of a political party may be filed;

WHEREAS, Section 61 of the Omnibus Election Code states:

"Section 61. Registration. - Any organized group of persons seeking registration as a national or regional political party may file with the Commission a verified petition attaching thereto its constitution and by-laws, platform or program of government and such other relevant information as may be required by the Commission.  The Commission shall, after due notice and hearing, resolve the petition within ten days from the date it is submitted for decision.

No religious sect shall be registered as a political party and no political party which seeks to achieve its goal through violence shall be entitled to accreditation."

WHEREAS, R.A. 7941 (An Act Providing for the Election of Party List Representatives Through The Party-List System, And Appropriating Funds Therefor) provides for a period within which an organized group of persons may register as a party, organization or coalition;

WHEREAS, Section 5 of R.A. No. 7941 provides:

"Sec. 5. Registration. - Any organized group of person may register as a party, organization or coalition for purpose of the party-list system by filing with the COMELEC not later than ninety (90) days before the election a petition verified by its president or secretary stating its desire to participate in the party-list system as a national, regional or sectoral party or organization or a coalition of such parties or organizations, attaching thereto its constitution, by-laws, platform or program of government, list of officers, coalition agreement and other relevant information as the COMELEC may require; Provided, that the sectors shall include labor, peasant, fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, elderly, handicapped, women, youth, veterans, overseas workers, and professionals.

The COMELEC shall publish the petition in at least two (2) national newspaper of general circulation.

The COMELEC shall, after due notice and hearing, resolve the petition within fifteen (15) days from the date it was submitted for decision but in no case not later than sixty (60) days before election."

WHEREAS, Section 29, R.A. 6646 and Section 28, R.A. 8436 provides that "if it shall no longer be reasonably possible to observe the periods and dates prescribed by law for certain pre-election acts, the Commission shall fix other periods and dates in order to ensure accomplishment of the activities so voters shall not be deprived of their suffrage";

NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to fix the period for filing petitions for registration of political parties, and registration of parties, organizations and coalitions participating under the party-list system of representation for the May 13, 2013 elections are as follows:

Period to file:  anytime but not later than March 30, 2012.

Let this Resolution be published in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

SO ORDERED.

SIXTO S. BRILLANTES, JR. Chairman
RENE V. SARMIENTO Commissioner		LUCENITO N. TAGLE Commissioner
ARMANDO C. VELASCO Commissioner		ELIAS R. YUSOPH Commissioner
CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM Commissioner		AUGUSTO C. LAGMAN Commissioner