MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to proclaim Gabriela Women’s Party first nominee Sarah Elago as the 64th party-list representative in the House of Representatives to ensure compliance with the constitutional requirement that 20 percent of the chamber’s seats be allotted to party-list groups.
Comelec chair George Erwin Garcia said in a radio interview on Sunday that Gabriela will be the additional seat-holder, completing the mandated allocation.
“Actually kung hindi tayo nagkakamali, officially ko nang babanggitin sa inyo, mukhang Gabriela party-list po yun,” Garcia told DZMM AM radio.
“Masasabi ko na sure na yun… Dito ko sa inyong programa unang nabanggit pero mas maganda pong nasasabi na natin upang mawala na yung agam-agam,” he added.
Garcia explained that their review found the earlier proclamation of 63 party-list winners only accounted for 19.8 percent of the House’s composition, short of the 20 percent provided in the Constitution.
“Sapagkat ang 63 ay 19.8 lamang, samantalang nakalagay sa ating Saligang Batas ang party-list ay dapat 20 percent ng komposisyon ng mismong House of Representatives,” he said.
By adding a 64th party-list seat, the proportion will rise to 20.4 percent, which Garcia noted is preferable to ensure compliance.
The Comelec en banc will finalize the decision on Wednesday, with the official proclamation expected the following day./PN
