COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said Wednesday that resignations of party-list representatives are common occurrences expected under the party-list system.
Garcia made the statement after confirming that the poll body had been informed of the resignations of Nathaniel Oducado of 1-Tahanan and Franz Legazpi of Pinoy Workers Party-list.
“This is a normal occurrence, especially in the party-list system. Often, you expect that there are always those who resign, those who will leave their party-list,” Garcia told reporters.
He said the Commission had received a letter from House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil confirming that Legazpi’s resignation had been accepted and his position officially declared vacant.
He noted that the House of Representatives is now asking the Comelec whether it has already issued a Certificate of Proclamation and who will replace the top nominee.
Garcia clarified that the Comelec has yet to receive any official communication from the House regarding the vacancy involving 1-Tahanan.
“As far as our records are concerned, we have not officially received anything yet from their end,” he said.
“We are still waiting for the official communication from the House of Representatives regarding the said party-list,” Garcia added.
The poll chief stressed that the Comelec is prepared for such developments since all party-list groups are required to submit a complete lineup of nominees before the elections.
Once a vacancy arises, Garcia said the Commission only needs to process the necessary paperwork, including certifications and the removal or updating of names in official records.
Under Comelec rules, every party-list organization must submit 10 nominees from which its representatives will be chosen.
“Nomination of less than 10 nominees shall not be accepted and shall not be given due course by the Commission,” the guidelines state.
Under the 1987 Constitution and Republic Act 7941, party-list representatives must comprise 20 percent of the total membership of the House of Representatives, which currently consists of 254 district representatives and 64 party-list seats.