BABAE KA partylist to seek AKBAYAN's Disqualification

The Babae Para Sa Kaunlaran (BABAE KA) partylist has threatened to petition the Comelec for the disqualification of Akbayan Citizen's Action (AKBAYAN) partylist for violating election laws.

BABAE KA had accused AKBAYAN of "leaking the names of the nominees of different party-list organizations in violation of Comelec rules and regulations."

BABAE KA chairperson Sally Dagami said, "The evidences against AKBAYAN were all documented by the various television and radio stations, and the print media. Nobody in his or her right mind will deny all these."

BABAE KA president Ruth Vasquez added: "AKBAYAN maliciously revealed the names of nominees of other party-list groups to grandstand and serve its selfish motive of gaining media mileage at the expense of legitimate party-list organizations."

Based on these alleged violations, Vasquez said her partylist will file a formal request to disqualify AKBAYAN, and encourage other partylists to join the petition against AKBAYAN.

"AKBAYAN has clearly violated the party-list system law and trampled upon the rights of legitimate party-list organizations. Thus, we call on all party-list groups to unite for the purpose of disqualifying AKBAYAN, the violator of our democratic rights," Vasquez said.

Last week, Comelec warned partylist of disqualification for revealing to the public the names of nominees of any partylist vying for a congressional seat in the May 14 elections.

Comelec Commissioner Resurreccion Borra said a sectoral party organization, committing such violation, would be disqualified "after proper proceedings and due process and the merit of the case."

Borra said the law prohibits the revelation of publication of the identities of partylist nominees "so as not to confuse the voters."

He added that even the poll body is not allowed to reveal the names because these nominees are not the candidates and that they would only represent the winning partylist in Congress. - Gregg M. Rubio/RAE