In a six-page decision issued this week, the Commission on Elections rejected an appeal of Migrante Sectoral Party to rejoin the partylist elections in 2010 and affirmed an earlier decision that delisted 25 other organizations.

Unless the Supreme Court trashes the twin-rulings of the Comelec, Migrante may not be able to join contenders in the partylist elections next year. Contenders win a seat in the House of Representatives if they win at least two-percent of all partylist votes cast.

Under the partylist law which seeks to empower marginalized and underrepresented sectors, partylist organizations that lose in two straight elections should be delisted. Migrante lost in its first run for partylist representation in 2004. But it did not participate in the 2007 elections and informed the Comelec about it.

The Comelec insists that Migrante’s non-participation in the 2007 elections also means defaulting and losing the same elections.  How can Migrante lose an election which it did not contest and join? This Comelec ruling on Migrante is obviously wrong and we look forward to hearing Migrante take its issue before the Supreme Court.

Migrante is the Philippines’ most well-known organization of overseas Filipino workers. The adverse rulings of the Comelec shocked its members worldwide as they have actually prepared their organization to join and win in the 2010 elections. Their quest is to elect the first OFW representative in the House of Representatives and give themselves a voice in the Philippine Congress.

An inside story

According to a source,  Comelec en banc allegedly did not bother to review its original ruling, Resolution 8679, delisting Migrante and 25 other organizations before it was signed. 

The source said that several Comelec commissioners were supposedly apologetic to Migrante in private for wrongfully including the OFW organization because it was truly a mistake which they overlooked and failed to correct.

Update

Connie Bragas Regalado, chairperson of Migrante, said in a statement that OFWs are disappointed but undeterred by the new Comelec ruling.

Migrante will file tomorrow at the Supreme Court an urgent petition for a temporary restraining order, among others.

“We are determined to challenge this latest affront to our OFWs’ collective desire to finally have a say in government ,” said Regalado.