Progressive party-lists slammed the Commission on Election’s (Comelec) indefinite suspension of the canvass of votes for party-lists, calling it “unnecessary,” “suspicious,” and casting only further doubt on the credibility of the elections.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes ordered the party-list canvass suspended on the first day of the national canvass until further notice, saying that several party-lists objected to the inclusion of votes cast for 12 party-lists disqualified by the Supreme Court and the poll body.

But according to Bayan Muna Rep. Colmenares, “We never asked for a suspension of the canvassing of party-list votes.”

The lawmaker said that Comelec merely had to abide by its own decision, which has been decided with finality and without an appeal or motion for reconsideration.

“The fact remains that these groups were disqualified by both the high court and Comelec and remained disqualified due to their failure to appeal. The indefinite stall will deny representation to sectors for at least a month,” said Colmenares.

The 12 party-lists disqualified from the race are: A-Ipra, Abang Lingkod, Anad, Atong Paglam, Kap, Senior Citizens, Smart, 1st Kabagis, Bantay, Cocofed, Binhi and Ang Galing Pinoy.

‘Elementary mathematics’

“There is no need for the Comelec to stop the party-list count. The Comelec can simply subtract the votes cast for the disqualified groups from the total party-list votes. This is elementary mathematics,” Katribu Party-list spokesperson Kakay Tolentino meanwhile said.

Tolentino said that Comelec’s move may be aimed towards rigging the outcome of the party-list elections, easing out progressive party-lists that truly represent marginalized sectors.

Katribu noted widespread electoral anomalies. For instance, several areas populated by indigenous groups like Cordillera and Caraga have experienced a delay in transmission of votes. 99% of PCOS machines in Palawan were also unable to function as well as in several other areas across Metro Manila. In Baguio and Compostela Valley, failure of elections has been declared because of switched ballots.

“[The disdain and nonchalance of Comelec and the Aquino administration] regarding these anomalies is insulting and a serious infringement and violation of the right of the people to suffrage,” said Tolentino.

Meanwhile, Lito Bais of the farmers’ group Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), a supporter of Anakpawis Party-list, also said that Comelec is only using the disqualification case against the 12 party-lists to justify the suspension of the party-list canvassing.

“We are worried that the longer the poll body delays the canvassing, the more that the party-list results would be highly susceptible to tampering,” Bais, a farmer from Hacienda Luisita, said.

Bais called on the Filipino people to be vigilant against these so-called “maneuvers” by the Aquino administration. “They are hell bent to reduce, or worse, deny, progressives [who continue to uphold a pro-people agenda] in Congress,” he said.

With reports from Jovianne Figueroa