Party-list nominees: Take off your masks

IDENTIFY YOURSELVES: By tomorrow, we should know which of the Party-lists running in the May 10 elections are just being used as Trojan horses of politicians and operators who cannot win a congressional seat on their own.

The Commission on Elections has required Party-lists to submit by March 26 their nominees to the House of Representatives in case the PL wins enough votes entitling it to at least one slot.

To garner one seat, a Party-list must get at least two percent of the votes cast for all PLs. (Earlier, Postscript erroneously said that the threshold for a PL winning a seat is two percent of all votes cast nationwide.)

The Constitution reserves 20 percent of all House seats for Party-lists. If those getting at least two percent are unable to occupy all 50 or so PL seats, the rest are given out down the line even to PLs getting less than two percent. The allocation is complicated and confusing.

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ADMIN BETS?: There are complaints this early that some Party-lists do not actually represent marginalized sectors as intended in the law and are just fronts of discredited politicians, administration bets and other shady characters.

Kabataan Party-list nominee Mark Louie Aquino said that presidential son Rep. Mikey Arroyo is a nominee of Ang Galing Pinoy, and that First Gentleman Mike Arroyo’s sister Lulu Arroyo is the representative of KASANGGA.

Aquino also called attention to Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes (1-UTAK), Trade Secretary Jesli Lapus (A TEACHER or ABAKADA), Energy Undersecretary Zamzamin Ampatuan (ADAM), Director of Labor and Employment Information and Publication Service Nicon Fameronag (AHON), former Muslim Affairs Executive Director Acmad Tumawis (ALIF), former congressman Salacnib Baterina (APO), DILG Undersecretary Melchor Rosales (APOI), Philippine International Trading Corp. Undersecretary Teddie Elson Rivera (Aangat Tayo), and PAGCOR chair Ephraim Genuino (BIDA-Batang Iwas).

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SEKYU’S NOMINEES?: Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said: “Mikey Arroyo is not eligible to become a Party-list nominee. He does not come from the ranks of the marginalized. He is the incumbent congressman of his district, a member of the dominant political party Lakas-Kampi, and a son of the President. By no stretch of the imagination can he be considered marginalized or fit to represent the marginalized.”

He said Ang Galing Pinoy’s second nominee is Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, a known Arroyo ally, and its third nominee is Bacolor Mayor Romeo Dungca, also of Pampanga.

Reyes added: “Is it just coincidence that the top three nominees of AGP all hail from Pampanga and are known allies of Mrs. Arroyo? This Party-list claiming to represent marginalized security guards has nominees coming from just one province! We raise serious questions as to the eligibility of AGP as a Party-list.” –Federico D. Pascual Jr. (The Philippine Star)

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