Top party-list organizations in the 2013 elections are currently struggling to get even one congressional seat as three newcomers have occupied top spots and may be entitled to as much as three seats.
An estimated 60 congressional seats will be filled up by nominees of party-list groups that will make the cut.
Under the party-list law, representatives of winning groups will fill up 20 percent of the total number of elected district congressmen.
Ako Bicol party-list regained the top spot with 1,619,477 votes that will allow three of its nominees, Reps. Rodel Batocabe and Christopher Co and former Rep. Alfredo Garbin, to be sworn in as members of the 17th Congress.
“It has been a long journey for Ako Bicol from starting out as a non-government organization, to almost being disqualified in 2013, to being chosen as the prime choice for party-list in the entire nation. We are both humbled and inspired by the overwhelming mandate given to us by our people,” said Batocabe in a press statement.
Expected to fill up at least two seats each are neophyte partylist groups 1Pacman with 1,274,749 votes, Kabayan, 798,411, and PBA, 739,892 votes as of 7 a.m. yesterday. (Ben R. Rosario)