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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Comelec to ban partylist names based on telenovelas, ayudas

Comelec to ban partylist names based on telenovelas, ayudas

Published May 16, 2025 02:43 pm

At A Glance

  • Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia announced stricter rules for party-list accreditation, banning names based on popular TV shows or government aid programs and requiring future applicants to align their names with genuine advocacies.
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin Garcia has issued a strong warning to party-list groups seeking accreditation for future elections: names inspired by popular television dramas or government aid programs will no longer be allo
In a press conference on Friday, May 16, Garcia stressed that any future applications for accreditation will undergo tighter scrutiny, particularly in the naming of party-list organizations.
“Nabanggít na namin sa inyo, hindi na kami papayag sa susunod na accreditation process na gagamit sila ng mga sikat na telenovela na pangalan (We’ve already told you — we will no longer allow, in the next accreditation process, the use of names taken from popular telenovelas),” Garcia said.
“Hindi po kami papayag na gagamit sila ng mga pangalan ng mga ayuda (We will not allow them to use names associated with government aid programs),” he added.
Garcia revealed that some financial assistance programs — or "ayuda" — not yet used in party-list branding remain vulnerable to exploitation. He vowed that the commission would block any attempts to co-opt such terms for political gain.
“Hindi na po tama 'yun (That is no longer right),” he added. “Yung mga nakaligtas, wala na kaming magagawa sapagkat bago pa naman dumating ang present leadership may mga na-accredit na ganoon (Regarding those who were already accredited, there's nothing we can do anymore because they were accredited even before the present leadership took over).”
Moving forward, the Comelec will require that party-list names reflect the group’s genuine advocacies and platforms. Garcia emphasized the importance of aligning names with the organization’s mission, rather than using catchy or emotionally resonant titles to attract voters.
“We will require them, if they want accreditation, to change the name of their party in accordance with their principle — kung ano talaga ang ipinaglalaban nila (what they are truly fighting for),” he said.
This move from Comelec signals a shift toward stricter oversight in the partylist system, which has faced criticism for being adopted by political interests or groups lacking clear sectoral representation.
He said that the poll body will also strictly enforce Republic Act 7941, which governs the party-list system in the Philippines. According to the law, party-lists that fail to secure at least two percent of the national vote in two consecutive elections will automatically lose their accreditation.
“Hindi pahinga — cancel (Not a break — it's a cancellation),” Garcia clarified. 
“And therefore, kung gusto nila mag-participate muli, they will have to apply for new accreditation (And therefore, if they want to participate again, they will have to apply for new accreditation),” he added.

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Comelec party-list May 2025 elections
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