Rody wants party-list system abolished

MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte intends to abolish the party-list system when the Constitution is overhauled through a constituent assembly, saying it’s a “mockery of the law.”

“I will not allow it…inabuso lahat yan ehang nananalo ay yong may pera (it is being abused…only moneyed people win). Representing what? The security guards?” the President said on Friday.

Duterte was apparently referring to Ang Galing Pinoy, a political group of security guards and tricycle drivers, formerly represented in the House of Representatives by Mikey Arroyo, son of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Commission on Elections disqualified Ang Galing Pinoy in 2013 after its First Division ruled that Mr. Arroyo did not belong to the sector he claimed to represent.

With a net worth of over P95 million, Mr. Arroyo was among the wealthiest party-list representatives in the 15th Congress. He first served as representative of Pampanga’s second district from 2001 to 2009 before his stint as party-list representative. 

“That’s the mockery of the law. ‘Yan talaga ang pinaka bastos na nagawa mo. Kasi ikaw, ‘yung pera, mag-bili ka ng ano diyan? Ano ba ‘yung ano mo? (That’s the most shameless thing to do. Because you have the money, you can buy anything? What is your group?) United idiots association,” Duterte said.

The President noted that once the constituent assembly is able to finish its job of revising the Constitution, he would be there to read it.

“So you could only come up with the Constitution that is responsive to the will of the people…this party-list, it will never come again,” he added.

Duterte stressed that this fight is similar to his crusade against the illegal drug trade in the country.

“Are you not really worried about what happens to the next generation? Have you not thought about your children? You will destroy the next generation,” the President said, noting the need for peace, to eradicate illegal drugs and to combat terrorism in the country.

Since his assumption to office on June 30, Duterte has called on the Communist and Muslim rebels to come to the negotiating table.

His anti-illegal drugs drive has also resulted in the death of more than 100 people, believed to be criminals or drug pushers, and the surrender of more than 100,000 individuals.

He has also warned the Abu Sayyaf, which is branded as a terrorist group, of the “day of reckoning.” The group is known for kidnapping foreigners in exchange for a hefty ransom payments.