MANILA, Philippines – The ruling Liberal Party (LP) and the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) will get more privileges compared to other political parties on election day, May 9, after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared them dominant in this year’s elections. 

In a resolution promulgated Thursday, April 14, the Comelec said the LP is now the dominant majority party.

UNA, meanwhile, is the dominant minority party.

Under the law, the Comelec is supposed to “furnish the dominant majority party and dominant minority party with copies of the election returns and the certificates of canvass.”

The dominant majority party and the dominant minority party, as well as major political parties, “shall be entitled to one official watcher in every polling place and canvassing center.”

The Comelec determined the dominant majority party, the dominant minority party, and the major political parties by using a 5-point criteria:

• Track record, “taking into account, among other things, their showing in past elections”

• Number of incumbent officials belonging to the party

• Political organizations and strengths

• Ability to field a complete slate of candidates from the municipal to the national level

• Other analogous circumstances

The poll body used a grading system with “weighted average points” in assessing the parties.

Major political parties, too

While the LP and UNA have been identified as dominant parties, the following have been declared major political parties:

• Nacionalista Party (NP)

• Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC)

• Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban)

• Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL)

• Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD)

• Aksyon Demokratiko

• National Unity Party (NUP)

The following have also been listed as major local parties:

• Kusog Baryohanon (KB) for the province of Davao del Norte

• United Negros Alliance (UNEGA) for the province of Negros Occidental

• Partido Abe Kapampangan (PAK) for Angeles City

• Arangkada San Joseno Inc (ASJ) for San Jose del Monte City

• Achievement with Integrity Movement (AIM) for General Santos City and the municipalities of Tupi, Tampakan, Polomolok, province of South Cotabato

• Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran (KABAKA) for the National Capital Region (NCR) 

In the 2013 elections, the Comelec also declared the LP as dominant majority party and UNA as dominant minority party. – Rappler.com