The Commision on Elections (Comelec) approved on Tuesday the petition of Pro-Active on Climate Change Leaders (PCL Party) which advocates environmental protection to participate in the coming party-list elections but cancelled the registration of 26 national, regional or sectoral parties, organizations or coalitions, for failure to participate in the last two preceding elections or obtain at least two per centum of the votes cast under the party-list system.

In a six-page resolution, the Comelec second division lent credence to the documentary evidence and answers to clarificatory questions by PCL leaders led by Wilson C. Vinoya that PCL is composed of individuals representing professional sector who are economically marginalized and sharing a common interest in environmental protection, nation-building, public service, health, human rights and justice.

The Comelec found from documentary and testimonial evidence presented by PCL through its legal counsel Francisco B. Sibayan that it has all the qualifications and none of the disqualification to participate in the elections of 2010 as a sectoral party under the party-list system of representation.

The resolution was signed by Presiding Commissioner Nicodemo T. Ferrer, and Commissioners Lucenito N. Tagle and Elias R. Yusoph.

In deleting 26 groups from the list of those qualified to participate in party-list polls, the Comelec en banc invoked Section 6 of Republic Act 7941, the Party-List System Act, which provides that it may, motu proprio or upon verified complaint of any interest party, remove or cancel the registration of any national, regional or sectoral party, organization or coalition for failure to participate in the last two elections or to obtain at least two per centum of the votes cast in the last two preceding elections.