Comelec Says Party-Lists Will Be No Longer Allowed to Use from Names of Cash Aid & TV Dramas
COMELEC – The commission announced that party-lists will be no longer allowed to use names of cash aids and television dramas.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) prohibits party-list groups from using names related to financial aid or popular television dramas in future elections. The new rule aims to ensure that group names reflect real advocacy and not just catchy or familiar phrases.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia shared the update during a press conference held on May 16. He explained that using names like well-known teleseryes or government assistance programs is misleading and not appropriate for groups that are supposed to represent genuine sectors of society.
These names can confuse voters and give an unfair advantage to certain groups during campaigns.
“Hindi na po kami papayag sa susunod na accreditation process na gagamit sila ng mga sikat na telenovela na pangalan. Hindi po kami papayag na gagamit sila ng mga pangalan ng mga ayuda… hindi na po tama ‘yun,” Garcia said.
Although the new rule will apply moving forward, the Comelec clarified that they cannot take action against party-lists that were already accredited under the previous leadership. Some groups with questionable names were approved before, and their participation in past elections cannot be undone.
However, for future accreditations, party-lists will be required to choose names that clearly reflect their mission, platform, and the communities they represent. The Comelec wants party-list names to be aligned with what the group stands for, not what sounds popular or familiar.
The move is part of Comelec’s effort to clean up the party-list system and bring back its true purpose to give voice to marginalized sectors and ensure fair representation in Congress.
By setting clearer rules for naming and accreditation, the commission hopes to prevent political gimmicks and promote transparency and accountability among party-list groups in the country.
In a previous report, Comelec encourages Filipino artists to file complaints on illegal song use in campaigns
The social media users expressed their reactions to the announcement:
