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By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

ORGANIZED public transport players yesterday staged a demonstration at the city office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), marring the first day of this week’s filing of certificates of candidacy.

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The demonstration was staged to pressure the Comelec to accredit the Alliance of Public Transport Organizations (1-Apto) as a party-list organization.

Paul Cempron, national vice president of 1-Apto, said he and his members were demanding that the elections commission allowed their group to be represented in the Lower House by approving 1-Apto’s application for party-list accreditation.

Cemprone, who is also president of the Motorela Operators’ and Drivers’ Association (Moda) in the city, said Comelec officials have been sitting on 1-Apto’s application since February.

City elections officer Palmer Palamine said he and other Comelec officials respect the right of Cempron’s group to stage demonstrations.

“Dili man pud nato sila ma-pog-ngan because that is part of their freedom of speech and expression,” Palamine said.

He said he and other Comelec officials here were unaware of the status of 1-Apto’s application, explaining that the decision can only be made by the commission’s officials in Manila. (nitz arancon)

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