Delisted party-list groups get chance to reapply for 2028 elections

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has opened a window for delisted party-list groups to petition for reinstatement, with a deadline of December 30, 2026, Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia announced Saturday. Approximately fifty organizations that lost their accreditation status must submit new applications demonstrating their eligibility to participate in the 2028 elections. Garcia said the groups would need to prove they meet the constitutional and legal requirements for party-list representation, including establishing legitimate advocacy, genuine constituency support, and compliance with electoral regulations. The reapplication process requires interested groups to file fresh petitions with the electoral commission, effectively resetting their accreditation status from scratch. The move gives delisted organizations a defined period to address the issues that led to their removal while allowing Comelec to evaluate whether they have resolved compliance deficiencies. Party-list groups that successfully regain accreditation will be eligible to field candidates under the proportional representation system reserved for marginalized sectors and party-list representatives in Congress.