MANILA (PNA) — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Jose Melo on Wednesday said the 57 party-list seats at the House of Representatives will not be complete when President Benigno Aquino III delivers his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) this month.

Melo noted that those who will be seating in the last five to seven seats would be determined until after the special elections in several areas in the country, tentatively set on September 12.

“The last places of these party-list will be decided in the last elections (that will be conducted),” Melo said.

Special elections will be held in in Basilan (345 clustered precincts), Lanao del Sur (28), and Bulacan (442) two months from now.

Meanwhile, Melo said that they would try to resolve pending cases against winning party-list organizations at least before the opening of the 15th Congress, which is slated on July 26.

Last May 31, the Comelec proclaimed the first 33 party-list congressmen for garnering enough votes.

On the other hand, the Comelec’s proclamation of 11 other winning party-list organizations has been deferred due to petitions against the organizations.

Under the party-list system, party-list representatives must comprise 20 percent of the House membership, totaling to 57 seats.

Aquino is set to deliver his first SONA later this month, which also marks the opening of the 15th Congress. (PNA)