Comelec to proclaim Akbayan

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expected to proclaim the Akbayan party-list as among the winners in the May 2022 polls, which would entitle the group to one seat in the House of Representatives. Chairman George Erwin Garcia on Wednesday gave assurances that Akbayan would be proclaimed as soon as the commission received a copy of the Supreme Court's decision that affirmed the Comelec's cancellation of An Waray's registration as a party-list group. "It will come any moment from now. However, we have yet to receive a copy of the Supreme Court decision. We will surely act fast," Garcia said. He issued the statement in response to Akbayan's call for its proclamation as the rightful holder of the last available seat in the House after An Waray, which ranked 27th out of the 56 party-list groups proclaimed, was eased out because of the Court's cancellation of its registration. As a result of the Court's ruling, Akbayan, which got 236,226 votes, entered the winning circle from 57th place to 56. In a 14-1 vote, the Court en banc said that Comelec did not commit grave abuse of discretion when it canceled An Waray's registration after one of its nominees, Victoria Isabel Noel, was found to have illegally assumed office as second representative in the 16th Congress without a certificate of proclamation. The cancellation of An Waray's registration also saved Akbayan from suffering two consecutive defeats which would mean its delisting in the upcoming midterm polls. Under RA 7491 or the Party-list System Act, groups that failed to participate in previous elections and those that failed to win a seat in two consecutive elections will be removed from the list. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Wednesday said it saw no problem in allowing the Akbayan Partylist to occupy the seat vacated by An Waray partylist in the 19th Congress. The House of Representatives' Legal Affairs Department cited the decision of the Comelec that affirmed the cancellation of the registration of An Waray partylist on August 14, and the subsequent dropping of its representative, Florencio "Bem" Noel, from its roll of members. "The decision of the Supreme Court gives finality to the cancellation of registration of An Waray Party-List and consequently, the vacancy in the House," the legal affairs department said. Diokno in Human rights lawyer Jose Manuel "Chel" Diokno on Tuesday joined the Akbayan partylist. He was sworn in by Senator Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros in a ceremony that was also attended by Akbayan president Rafaela David and fellow human rights lawyer Etta Rosales. Prior to joining Akbayan, Diokno, the son of former senator Jose "Pepe" Diokno, was working with them in defending civil liberties through the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), where he is chairman. "I express my sincerest gratitude to the Akbayan Party for welcoming me into its fold with open arms. No cause is indeed more worthy than the cause of human rights and I see this partnership as an avenue to continue the Diokno legacy of human rights alongside Akbayan's progressive and reform-oriented politics," he said. "I am delighted to be a part of your family and to continue the fight for a more equal, just, and democratic society. Together, we will advocate for human rights, equality, and a brighter future for everyone. I am excited to collaborate and serve with Akbayan for change and justice in our country," Diokno said in a statement in Filipino that was posted on his social media platforms.