The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday ruled out the possible extension of the August 17, 2009 deadline for the filing of petitions for registration of political parties as well as of organizations and coalitions under the party-list system of representation in connection with the May 10, 2010 presidential, congressional, local and party-list elections.

The Comelec, led by Chairman Jose A.R. Melo, said the calendar of activities and periods of prohibited acts as contained in its en banc Resolution 8648 will be strictly implemented to keep the preparations for next year’s fully automated political exercise on target.

The August 17, 2009 deadline for filing of petitions for registration of political parties and organizations and coalitions under the party-list system of representation is the first item in the Calendar of Activities and Periods of Prohibited Acts approved by the Comelec en banc for the May 10, 2010 countrywide fully automated polls.

Comelec announced that the August 17 deadline will not be extended even as the heavy influx of filers for registration of political parties, organizations and coalitions continues.

The officers of political parties, organizations and coalitions planning to file petitions for registration expressed hope that the deadline would be extended since it normally takes time to complete the required documents.

They said a total of 12 documents are required to be submitted to the Comelec to support a petition for registration of a political party, organization or coalition, among which are the extent of its constituency, program of government, and the names and addresses of its executive officers, executive committee members, and directorate or party convention delegates.

Other documents required to be attached to the petition for registration are 10 copies of its constitution and by-laws, party platform, organizational papers, declaration of political creed or code of political ethics, and such other documents of similar or equivalent character.

Before taking action on the petition, the Comelec will verify, through its field offices, the status and capacity of the petitioner and the veracity of the allegations in the petitions and its enclosures. Upon receipts of the reports from its field offices, the Comelec will immediately set the petition for hearing.