Youth want 4 party-list groups disqualified

A youth group has filed a disqualification case against four party-list groups for allegedly using the party-list system to push their own ideological and political agenda.

In a petition it lodged before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Organizations Unified for the Next Generation of Filipinos (Youth) said Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela and Kabataan groups should be stricken off the official list of party-list candidates in the polls in May because they “do not really intend to serve the best interest of the people.”

According to Youth president Rodolfo Villena Jr., in all the years of their existence from being street-based protest groups up to their becoming party-list groups in the House of Representatives, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela and Kabataan have not done anything but perpetually criticize the Arroyo administration.

“All they do is criticize without offering concrete solutions. This is their way of pursuing ideological objectives, and part of which is the overthrow of the ruling system through bloody means,” Villena said.

He moreover said that the four groups actually are not different from each other as they are practically a clone of each one, and, therefore, have violated the law on the forming of a party-list group.

“These organizations are mere affiliates of the alliance called Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or Bayan, and Bayan is merely duplicated by Bayan Muna, the party-list organization. As such, these so-called party-list parties have violated the provisions of the Party-list System Law,” Villena said.

The four party-list groups had earlier planned to form a coalition called the Makabayan political party, but they deserted such a plan after they realized that they could form an alliance without having to formally create a political party and disbanding their respective organizations. –Marie A. Surbano, Daily Tribune