Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is prepared to defend its decision to proclaim the Gabriela Women's Party as the 64th winning party-list group in the May 2025 elections. Comelec Chairperson George Garcia expressed readiness to address the petition filed by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) before the Supreme Court (SC).

According to Philippines News Agency, the NTF-ELCAC has requested the SC to issue a status quo ante order (SQAO) on the Comelec en banc's proclamation of Gabriela, acting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC). The task force argues that the 64th seat in the House of Representatives would exceed the 20 percent limit stipulated in the 1987 Constitution and Republic Act 7941, the Party-list System Act.

In response, Comelec's resolution stated that the 64-seat allocation for party-lists equates to 20.1258 percent of the party-list composition in the House of Representatives. In contrast, a 63-seat allocation would only represent 19.8738 percent. Garcia emphasized that the Constitution mandates party-list members to comprise 20 percent of the House of Representatives.

Garcia also mentioned that any concerns regarding the Gabriela party-list should be directed to the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET), which now holds jurisdiction over party-list organizations. He clarified that once proclaimed, sworn in, and having assumed their position, Comelec's jurisdiction over them ceases.

The poll body recently proclaimed Gabriela's 1st Nominee, Sarah Elago, as its representative in the 20th Congress.