Party-list bets, supporters swarm Comelec Tent

MANILA, Philippines — Members and supporters of party-list groups yesterday flooded the Manila Hotel Tent where the Commission on Elections (Comelec) accepted the certificates of nomination and acceptance (CONA) filed by their nominees seeking seats in Congress in next year’s mid-term polls.

Leading the aspirants for party-list representative was former senator Leila de Lima, who filed her CONA as first nominee of the Mamamayang Liberal (ML).

Joining De Lima as ML’s two other nominees who also filed their CONA were former representatives Teddy Baguilat and Erin Tañada.

“This is the fight of the hungry, the sick, those who die because of the neglect, the violence and lies being perpetuated by the country’s leaders. This is also the fight of our co-Filipinos whose lives and families were destroyed because of the POGOs (Philippine offshore gaming operators) and online gambling that proliferated also because those in power were irresponsible,” said De Lima.

“We are offering ourselves once again for public service – to be the voice, a strong voice of the marginalized and to fight for truth representation,” she said.

“We will not retreat. We will not surrender. We will remain true to the Filipino people. We will continue to fight for a government that can be trusted by the people,” she pointed out.

The former senator said she decided to seek a congressional seat instead as the fight in the senate appears to be difficult now.

“It’s a tight race. The competition in the Senate is tough. I am thinking that through engaging in the party-list, it will bring us closer to the marginalized people. It is not far from my advocacy. It’s something challenging to me, it’s different but related also… still in the name of public service,” De Lima added.

Another party-list that filed its CONA is the Solo Parents Partylist as represented by its nominee Jeremy Marquez, who is the son of actor and former politician Joey Marquez.

“Solo Parents, of course, recognizes that the family is the most important unit in our community and we represent the mothers and the fathers. It’s a very new sector and it is just now that it is being recognized,” Marquez said.

He said he is thankful that there are now several laws benefitting single parents.

“There was a time that our culture is not that accepting of broken families and now solo parents are being noticed and given protection,” Marquez added.

On Friday, nominees of the Kabataan Partylist also filed their CONAs.

First nominee Renee Co promised to push for the rights of students as provided for by the Students Rights Bill.

“We would also work for the realization of accessible education. This would mean free college tuition and free college entrance exam,” Co said.

Nominees of the TGP (Talino at Galing ng Pinoy) Partylist who also filed their CONA said the health issue is their priority.

“Let’s take care of our health. We need affordable drugs and we are for the removal of the value-added tax in medicines,” the group said.

They added they would also be pushing for every barangay in the country to have its own pharmacy.

Other party-list groups that filed its CONA were the Aktibong Kaagapay, Construction Worker’s Solidarity, Kaunlad Pinoy, 1-Pacman, Toda Aksyon, Ako Bisaya, KM Ngayon Na, Asap (Alyansa Laban sa Aubstance Abuse para sa Bagong Pilipinas Natin) Na, Ayuda Para sa may Kapansanan, 4 P’s, Pilipinas Babangon Muli, Maharlika Pilipino Party, Bida Katagumpay, Ang Kasangga, Dagat (Developed Agricultural Growth, Advancement and Transformation) Partylist, BTS (Bayaning Tsuper) and One Tahanan Partylist.