The Commission on Elections have finally allowed the first-ever Pilipinos With Disabilities as an official party-list group approved by the COMELEC for the 2013 Mid-Term Elections.
The Pilipinos with Disabilities (PWD) were represented by visually-impaired Michael Barredo, orthopedically-impaired Manuel Agcaoili, Adeline Ancheta, Octavio Gonzales and Luis Arellano, all of them were persons with disabilities.
According to COMELEC Commissioner Sixto Brillantes Jr., “They are represented by Filipinos, all of them are disabled. Right now we don’t have a representation of the disabled.” he stated.
The head of the special voter’s registration for PWD’s Commissioner Rene Sarmiento also added that “The nominees were all disabled with a proven track records in working for persons with disabilities,” Sarmiento stated.
