Statement - Government should not interfere in the Party-List system

Several Arroyo administration-backed groups that have been initiated by government officials, have been accredited by the Commission on Elections.

The Commission on Elections should get its act together and revisit its list of accredited party-list organizations and parties that the poll body has allowed to run under the list system in May's elections. Among these party-list groups being backed by government institutions are Banat, Ahon Pinoy, Anad, Aangat Tayo, Ang Kasangga, Agbiag and Bigkis Pinoy.

We welcome pluralism but the accreditation of dubious and administration-backed groups to run under the party-list system makes a mockery of the law and the reasons for which the system was created in the first place.

In its June 26, 2001 decision in Ang Bagong Bayani-OFW v. Comelec, et.al. (G.R. No. 147589, June 26, 2001), the Supreme Court ordered the Comelec to evaluate if the party-list participants in the 2001 elections met its eight-point guidelines. We want to know if these guidelines were observed in the accreditation process.

These guidelines tell us that it's not enough that two or three ambitious proxies get together and run for Congress. There must be incontrovertible proof that they represent a constituency of marginalized and oppressed sectors.

The Comelec must look deeper into reports that some of these party-list groups are backed by government officials and offices, which is in violation of the same 2001 Supreme Court ruling. The principle behind the party-list is the graver sin that is being violated here. RA 7941 or the party-list act aims to give a voice to those who are otherwise excluded from the decision-making processes of our institutions, as provided in the Constitution.

With the government interfering, the party-list system is being undermined and weakened when it should be strengthened to allow more marginalized voices to get heard in Congress.

Erman Selibio
Akbayan Party List