MANILA (UPDATED) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday officially declared Akbayan Citizen’s Action Party as a winning party-list group in the May 2022 elections, marking the group’s return to the House of Representatives.
This decision grants Akbayan one seat, with former National Youth Commission member Percival Cendaña set to represent the group in the House.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia forwarded a formal communication to House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, confirming Cendaña’s proclamation. Garcia also shared a copy of the Certificate of Proclamation with the media, which was issued by the Commission en Banc, acting as the National Board of Canvassers.
Cendaña’s seat was initially occupied by An Waray, a party-list whose registration was revoked by the Comelec, a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court. The cancellation of An Waray’s registration stemmed from a 2019 petition filed by Danilo Pornias and Jude Acidre.
Pornias and Acidre, now a congressman for Tingog party-list, argued that An Waray’s second nominee, Victoria Isabel Noel, took office in the 16th Congress despite the group being entitled to only one seat. In 2013, An Waray was one of the 14 party-list groups proclaimed with one seat each.
In a statement, Akbayan Party president Rafaela David called the group’s return to Congress a “significant victory for all progressive, democratic, and reform-oriented forces” in the country. She emphasized that their win was the result of the hard work of members and supporters, not a legal technicality.
“It validates the efforts of progressive and democratic groups to challenge abuses and address excesses under the previous administration,” David said.
Akbayan returns to the House of Representatives after a five-year absence.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairperson emeritus of Akbayan, expressed confidence in Cendaña’s ability to continue Akbayan’s tradition of principled politics. “I am excited to see him actively participating in the Quad Comm hearings and advancing key issues like SOGIE Equality and Security of Tenure. Mabuhay, Rep. Perci! Mabuhay, Akbayan!” Hontiveros said.
Akbayan is one of the pioneer party-list organizations in Congress, participating in the first party-list elections in 1998 and winning several elections since, except in 2019.
Meanwhile, Comelec Chairman Garcia announced that Filipino voters would have more than 160 party-list organizations to choose from in the 2025 elections. This number includes 42 new groups and at least seven organizations seeking to change their name for the upcoming campaign. More groups may be added as the Comelec continues to evaluate applications for accreditation.
In the 2022 national elections, around 70 party-list groups were accredited by the Comelec.
“Asahan ninyo within this week, mare-release namin yung kabuuang bilang ng mga party-list at yung mga pangalan ng mga party-list na makakapag-participate sa ating halalan sa 2025,” said Garcia.