Party-list groups ordered to bare nominees

To ensure transparency in next year's elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered party-list organizations to include the names of their nominees in all their campaign materials. According to Resolution No. 8695, the Comelec is mandated to disclose and release the names of the nominees of party-list groups, organizations, or coalitions registered to participate in the 2010 elections. “The right of the people to elect their representatives and the need to be informed of matters that have a bearing on their choice, requires party-list parties, organizations or coalitions to include the name of nominees in all of its campaign materials," said the resolution. It added that the Comelec Law Department has been tasked to prepare the list of nominees within five days after March 26, 2010 and publish the said list in three newspapers of general circulation. Last October, 25 party-list groups were delisted after they failed to get at least two percent of the votes cast in the last two preceding elections. At least 25 party-list groups have filed their manifestation to participate in the 2010 elections since Friday. The Comelec earlier said that party-list groups whose accreditation are still pending or on appeal can still file their manifestation so that they may be ready whatever the decision of the poll body may be. - GMANews.TV