Mikey: Who said party-list representatives are marginalized?

MANILA, Philippines – The height of hypocrisy and utmost arrogance.

Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo scoffed yesterday at allegations of some party-list lawmakers that he is not from the marginalized sector.

“It is the height of hypocrisy,” he said.

“It is utmost arrogance on their part to say that. What sector are they representing? And don’t they come from the privileged sector, too?”

President Arroyo’s son said in choosing nominees of party-list organizations, what matters most is that their representative will champion their cause, ideals and interests.

“Just like them (Reps. Teddy Casiño and Risa Hontiveros), although they come from the privileged sector, they claim to champion the causes of the marginalized sector they represent,” he said.

“Mr. Jose Ma. Sison had been the chairman of the (Communist Party of the Philippines) and it is widely believed he is still chairman of the CPP up to now.

“But then, the CPP is a movement of the working class. Is Mr. Sison a member of the working class himself? I don’t think so.”

Mikey said his critics, in interfering with the decision of other party-list groups, only portrayed how “arrogant and unethical” they have become.

“It’s the right of the party to decide who they want to nominate, it’s something internal to the party,” he said.

“It’s very arrogant and unethical for another party-list to meddle in the affairs of another.”

“No one has the monopoly over the representation of the marginalized sectors. They are not the only ones who have the right to serve the public.

“What laws have they passed, in the first place? I was able to champion the passage of the Renewable Energy Act. I am silently working in the House yet I get these criticisms.”

Mikey said he will soon announce if he has accepted the invitation to run for a party-list seat and identify the group before the deadline for submission of nominees on March 26. –Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star)