33 party-list representatives proclaimed

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) has proclaimed 33 party-list representatives that will represent 26 organizations in the 15th Congress except presidential son Juan Miguel M. Arroyo who is still facing a disqualification case.

Comelec Chairman Jose A. R. Melo said in an interview yesterday that nominees with pending disqualification cases, even if their groups were already declared winners, would not be proclaimed until their cases are resolved.

Mr. Arroyo is the first nominee of Ang Galing Pinoy. The nominee of the Alliance for Barangay Concerns Party, which was among the first 28 groups proclaimed last May, was likewise not included in the list of proclaimed nominees.

“[The disqualification case of Mr. Arroyo] is with the ponente. I told my colleagues that let us decide all of these [cases], as much as possible before June 30 or at the very latest before the convening of Congress in July 26 so the nominees could sit,” Mr. Melo said.

The other party-list representatives were identified as: Godofredo V. Arquiza and David L. Kho (Coalition of Association of Senior Citizens in the Philippines); Walden F. Bello and Arlene J. Bag-ao (Akbayan Citizen’s Action Party); Luzviminda C. Ilagan and Emerencia A. De Jesus (Gabriela Women’s Party); Jose R. Ping-Ay and Cresente C. Paez (Cooperative Natcco Network Party); Robert Raymund M. Estrella and Francisco Emmanuel R. Ortega (ABONO); Teodoro A. Casiño and Nero J. Colmenares (Bayan Muna); Florencio G. Noel and Neil Benedict A. Montejo (An Waray); Nicanor M. Briones (Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines, Inc.); Rafael V. Mariano (Anakpawis); Raymond V. Palatino (Kabataan Party-list); Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.( Abante Mindanao, Inc.); Antonio L. Tinio (Act Teachers); Carol Jayne B. Lopez (You Against Corruption and Poverty); Teodorico T. Haresco (Ang Kasangga sa Kaunlaran, Inc.); Bernadette R. Herrera-Dy (Bagong Hene-rasyon); Patricio T. Antonio (Agbiag! Timpuyog Ilocano, Inc.); Mark Aeron H. Sambar (Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta); Catalina G. Leonen-Pizarro (Arts Business and Science Professionals); Rayund Democrito C. Mendoza (Trade Union Congress of the Philippines); Angelo B. Palmones (Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Mamamayan, Inc.); Emmeline Y. Aglipay (Democratic Independent Workers Association); Ranulfo P. Canonigo (Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala); Abigail Faye C. Ferriol (Kalinga Advocacy for Social Empowerment and Nation Building Through Easing Poverty, Inc.); Rodante D. Marcoleta (Alagad Party-list); Reena Concepcion G. Obillo (1 Ang Pamilya); and Eulogio R. Magsaysay (Alliance of Volunteer Educators).

There are 57 seats allotted for party-list representatives for the 15th Congress. — Ana Mae G. Roa, Businessworld