Bayan questions accreditation of 9 party-list groups

MANILA, Philippines - Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) yesterday questioned the accreditation by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of nine administration-linked party-list groups, saying the administration may be creating a “power block” in Congress to push Charter change.

Bayan said the party-list groups were included in the list drawn up by poll watchdog Kontra Daya in 2007 and in a 2006 memorandum from the Office on External Affairs (OEA) in Malacañang.

These are: Agbiag Timpuyo Ilokano (Agbiag); Ahon Pinoy (AHON); Akbay Pinoy OFW-National (APOI); Aangat Ating Kabuhayan Filipinas (ANAK); Babae para sa Kaunalaran (Babae Ka); Bigkis Pinoy Movement (Bigkis); Byaheng Pinoy Labor Association (Byaheng Pinoy); Kalahi Sectoral Party (Kalahi); and League of Youth for Peace Advancement (LYPAD).

Bayan said AGBIAG, Babae Ka, KALAHI, and LYPAD were previously cited in the OEA memo, while the rest were identified by Kontra Daya as administration party-list groups for having nominees related to officials belonging to the administration party.

“Agbiag, Babae Ka, Kalahi and LYPAD were then considered the four main party-list groups to be supported by the administration in the 2007 polls and were supposed to receive Palace funding according to the OEA memo. Receiving official funding from the government should already be a basis for disqualification,” said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr.

“These groups have been accredited again despite previous questions on their qualifications as legitimate party-list groups. In contrast, Comelec has made it difficult for the legitimate party-list groups like Ang Ladlad, Migrante, ACT and Courage to get immediate accreditation,” he added.

The Comelec has rejected the petition of Ang Ladlad, a party-list group representing homosexuals, based on “moral grounds.” Courage and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) were disqualified for lack of constituency, while Migrante was disqualified for losing in the past two elections.

Power-bloc

Bayan said the administration may be attempting to use the party-list system to form a “power-bloc” in Congress to include President Arroyo - once she secures a seat in the House of Representatives - her family members, and her former Cabinet officials.

“This power block may be used to push for Charter change so that Arroyo can be back on top as prime minister,” Reyes believed.

Bayan also said it is “anomalous” for Bigkis to be allowed to participate in the May elections because it failed to be elected in the past three elections.

Bayan said one of its nominees is PAGCOR chairman Efraim Genuino. Previous nominees included PAGCOR officials Edward King and Ramon Agoncillo, consultants Mario Cornista, Ismael Tabo, Tomas Toledo, and Sheryl Genuino-See, daughter of the PAGCOR chairman.

“Isn’t it the rule that if a party-list group fails to participate or obtain at least 2 percent of the votes cast under the party-list system in the two preceding elections, they are to be de-listed? Why is it that that rule doesn’t seem to apply to a party-list group that is identified with PAGCOR and Genuino?” Reyes said.

“Is the Comelec giving special treatment and consideration for party-list groups identified with the administration?” he added.

In its 2007 list, Kontra-Daya also cited groups Aangat Tayo (AT), BANTAY, BANAT, Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD), and Kasangga sa Kaunlaran (Ang Kasangga) as party-list groups identified with the administration.

Bayan said Ang Kasangga’s congressional representative is a sister of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo; while BANTAY’s representative is retired Gen. Jovito Palparan.

Undermined, corrupted

“The party-list system is supposed to be for the marginalized or underrepresented. However, over the past years, through the efforts of (President) Arroyo and the Comelec, the party-list system has been undermined and corrupted to favor the incumbent in Malacañang,” Reyes said.

Bayan said it has been the administration’s strategy to field many party-list groups to draw votes away from legitimate party-list groups, many of which are anti-administration.

“The disclosure of party-list nominees is a crucial aspect of transparency in the elections. We can better analyze and pinpoint the pseudo-party list groups if the Comelec makes public the nominees,” he also said.