Consumers Domain
Dubious party-list groups
"Politicians are like diapers. They need to be changed frequently."
--from the movie "Man of the Year"
Election day is nearing. Many may already have a list of their choice candidates. What this column would like to underscore now is the importance of filling out the space for a Party-List organization in your ballot.
In the Party-List field there are 91 accredited groups. As we all know however the Party-List system has been infected with the trapo virus (a disease worse than cancer). A number of these 91 are actually fronts of traditional politicians particularly that fraud president in Malacañang.
Section 2 of the Republic Act No. 7941 or the Party-List System Act states: "The State shall promote proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives... which will enable Filipino citizens belonging to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors, organizations and parties, and who lack well-defined political constituencies but who could contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation..."
Maybe these trapos think they are also marginalized and underrepresented and want more seats in Congress for their vested interests. They have become so greedy that they even want to commandeer the representation alloted for the poor and marginalized sectors of Filipinos.
What makes a genuine Party-List organization? The Supreme Court laid down rigid guidelines for organizations participating in the party-list system. The following are excerpts from the SC rulling in Ang Bagong Bayani v. COMELEC (G.R. No. 147589, June 26, 2001).
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The mainstream political party, sector,organization or coalition must represent the marginalized and underrepresented groups identified in Section 5 of RA 7941.
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The political party, sector, organization or coalition must represent the marginalized and underrepresented groups identified in Section 5 of RA 7941.
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Religious groups are prohibited from registering in the party-list system but members thereof are not prohibited from running for public office.
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A party or an organization must not be disqualified under Section 6 of RA 7941.
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The party or organization must not be an adjunct of, or a project organized or an entity funded or assisted by, the government. The Court held that, "The participation of the government or its officials in the affairs of a party-list candidate is not only illegal and unfair to other parties, but also deleterious to the objective of the law: to enable citizens belonging to marginalized and underrepresented sectors and organizations to be elected to the House of Representatives." This prohibition is found in Section 2 (4) of Article IX (B) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and Section 261 (o) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881.
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The party must not only comply with the requirements of the law; its nominees must likewise do so.
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Not only the candidate party or organization must represent marginalized and underrepresented sectors; so also must its nominees.
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While lacking a well-defined political constituency, the nominee must likewise be able to contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation that will benefit the nation as a whole.
Now, as responsible voters and citizens, let us not be part of this trapo scheme to subvert the essence of the Party-List elections. Below is a list of dubious party-list organizations that surely will not pass the guidelines above. Let us make sure that the names of these groups do not find their way to your ballot. And as your small service to your community please tell your relatives, friends and neighbors not to vote for any of these groups.
BABAE KA: Nominees: Sally Dagami- reportedly has close links with the Office of External Affairs, also a reported former KGMA Coordinator; Ruth Vaquez- a member of Sigaw ng Bayan (pro-cha cha, pro-GMA group); KAKUSA: Nominees: Ranulfo "Dodong" Canonigo; Atty. Omar Rivera - Chief of Staff of Rep. Cecelia Jalosjos-Calderon. Both Jaloslos-Calderon and Atty. Rivera are members of PDSP; Ma. Jesusa Arguelles-Sespene - Chief of Staff of Rep. Cesar Jalosjos, who is also a member of PDSP. PDSP is led by National Security Adviser Bert Gonzales; BIYAHENG PINOY: Nominees: Mandaluyong Vice Mayor Jesus Cruz; Dr. Arsenio Abalos - a brother of Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos, whose own son, Ben-Hur, is running for mayor in Mandaluyong City; ANG KASANGGA: Nominees: The sister of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, Marilou Arroyo, is allegedly one of the nominees of the group; AHON PINOY: Nominees: Dante "Klink Ang Jr. -- Son of Dante Ang Sr., Chairman of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas; Bernardo Ople, brother of late senator Blas Ople; Ernesto Herrera III, son and namesake of a former senator. AKSYON SAMBAYANAN (AKSA): Nominees: Timoteo Aranjuez, former secretary-general of Partido Democratiko Soyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP); Elizabeth Angsioco, chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP), the women organization of Norberto Gonzales' PDSP; BANTAY: Nominees: Retired General Jovito Palparan - Palparan is accused of orchestrating numerous cases of extra-judicial killings. Branded as the "Butcher General"; BANAT: Nominees: Atty. Raul Lambino - Spokesman and leader of Sigaw ng Bayan, whose People's Initiative was called by the Supreme Court as an act of grand deception; Atty. Salvador Britanico; Joel Mendez.; ANAK: Nominees: Kenneth Gatchalian - son of William Gatchalian; Supt. Eduardo Octaviano - a police officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP) National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO); the other dubious party-list groups are AGBIAG!, AKBAY PINOY, LYPAD, AANGAT TAYO, ANAD, and AGING PINOY.
There are so many genuine party-list and this column hope that you pick the right one. Partido ang Manggagawa (PM) and Sanlakas are groups that this author supports.
And one more reminder before you go to the polling booths -- Do not pin all your hopes to elections. The power to change this corrupt system lies in our own hands and how we as a people unite to push for social justice.
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