Comelec to release new party-list guidelines

Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will release new guidelines on party-lists after the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that the substitution of Rowena Guanzon as the first nominee of Komunidad ng Pamilya, Pasyente at Persons with Disabilities (P3PWD) party-list in the 2022 polls was null and void, according to Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia.

Garcia said the high court’s ruling is “very important” in addressing “gray areas” in party-list guidelines such as substitution.

READ: SC declares null and void Guanzon’s substitution for P3PWD party-list

“We have to adjust many rules,” he said in Filipino.

He added that the new guidelines will be “consistent and pursuant to” the decision of the SC.

The Comelec chief clarified that the guidelines would not affect the 2025 elections as the party-lists and their nominees already filed their certificates of nomination.

Garcia also said the SC ruling would not affect Guanzon’s party-list nominee standing for the 2025 elections.

READ: Comelec: P3PWD should not appeal SC decision on Guanzon

The high court granted the petition of Duterte Youth party-list to declare Guanzon’s substitution bid as null and void as the substitution was filed after the deadline set by Comelec.

It also noted that the Comelec, through its resolution dated June 15, 2022, committed “grave abuse of discretion” for approving the substitution.

READ: SC chief to Comelec: Ask Congress to amend party-list law