By Leslie Ann Aquino The Commission on Elections has decided to maintain the respective numbers that Party-List Groups, who will participate in the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections, got during the raffle last month. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez (FILE PHOTO / CAMILLE ANTE / MANILA BULLETIN) "After due deliberation, the Commission En Banc resolved to maintain the numbers as raffled in the event that Party-List Groups with pending incidents ultimately be denied accreditation," Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said in a statement. "The numbering sequence for those Party-List Groups allowed to participate in the May 13 polls will also be retained," he added. Jimenez said those Party-List Groups and their respective raffled numbers adjudged as disqualified to participate in the 2019 NLE will be cancelled. It was last December 5 when the poll body conducted an automated raffle to determine the order of listing of party-list groups, organizations or coalitions on the official ballot for the midterm polls. Participants to the raffle included those whose registrations are final and who were able to file their Manifestations of Intent to Participate in the Party-List Elections on or before May 2, 2018. However, the raffle still included those: whose registration and accreditation were cancelled by the Commission but were able to secure a status quo ante order from the Supreme Court; whose Petitions for Registration had been denied by the Commission but were able to secure a mandatory injunction from the SC; whose registration and accreditation were still pending with the Commission by raffle date; and whose Petitions for Registration had been denied by the Commission but possessed pending Motions for Reconsideration as of raffle date. During the said raffle, Bayan Muna secured the top spot among partylist organizations in the official ballot followed by Kabalikat ng Mamamayan, and Magkakasama sa Sakahan Kaunlaran. Partylist group Kasosyo Producer Consumer Exchange Association Inc, where former PCOO assistant secretary Mocha Uson is a nominee, landed on the 134th spot. A total of 181 partylist groups were included in the electronic raffle but only 134 were able to send a representative. Earlier, the poll body already said that partylist groups, organizations or coalitions who fail or neglect to send a representative with a written authority under oath during the raffle shall be considered to have waived their right to participate. The names of these party-list groups will be listed alphabetically below the raffled list.