Questionable party-list groups face legal suits

MANILA, Philippines - Election watchdog group Kontra Daya said they would be filing appropriate petitions against questionable party-list organizations, including known allies and relatives of President Aquino and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, starting Tuesday.

Kontra Daya co-convener Fr. Joe Dizon said they are formalizing their opposition against questionable groups with the filing of complaints.

“They basically violate both the intent and spirit of the party-list law and provisions,” Dizon said, adding that the party-list system is a good system that should not be ruined by powerful groups and families.

Under the law, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has the power to deny or remove the accreditation of party-list groups either motu propio or upon verified complaint of interested parties.

Among the possible grounds for disqualification are being associated with groups that are organized for religious purposes; advocates of violence or unlawful means to seek its goal; a foreign party or organization receiving support from any foreign government, foreign political party, foundation, or organization for partisan election purposes; and those that violate or fail to comply with laws, rules or regulations relating to elections.

Also restricted are groups that have declared untruthful statements in their petitions and have ceased to exist for at least one year; those that fail to participate in the last two preceding elections; or those that fail to obtain at least two percent of the votes cast under the party-list system in the two preceding elections for the constituency in which the concerned party has registered.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said they welcome the plan of Kontra Daya and other groups to oppose questionable groups or nominees.

Brillantes said that the Comelec hopes to come-up with the final list of party-list groups that will be allowed to run in the May 2013 polls before Oct. 1.

At least 289 party-list groups have already filed their intent to participate in the next elections, including those that are already registered with the Comelec.

Some 165 groups still have pending petitions for accreditation.

Kontra Daya earlier questioned several party-list groups who are planning to run in 2013, including those that have nominees that are relatives and allies of Aquino and Macapagal-Arroyo.

The watchdog group cited in particular presidential aunt Margarita Cojuangco, aunt of Aquino, a two-term governor of Tarlac who is now the first nominee of Aksyon Magsasaka-Partido Tinig ng Masa.

“Allowing Cojuangco to run puts the system in mockery and disrepute since it is almost the same scenario as Ang Galing Pinoy party-list of Rep. Mikey Arroyo,” Kontra Daya said.