Nominees of Comelec approved partly-list groups slammed

It’s the same old political story.

The Party-list system in the Philippines serves the interests of political personalities or political allies who are either no longer eligible to run for district seats ater serving some nine terms in the House of Representatives or are allies of both the opposition and the administration who, however, cannot win a congressional seat under the regular district elections.

A party-lister who wins in the national elections needs only a couple of accumulated hundred thousand votes nationwide, while a district representative is elected by the majority of his district constituency.

Not surprisingly, as the list of names of the party-list nominees has been uploaded by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in its Web site, the names of their party lists’ first and second nominees were familiar as they were either allies of the incumbent administration or the allies of the previous admnistration, or relatives of known political families, as well as politicians who are no longer eligible to run under a regular term.

Among the names listed are Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, a relative of President Aquino, although they are said to be at odds with the incumbent president.

Tingting was a two-term governor of Tarlac and is the first nominee of Aksyon Magsasaka-PartidoTinig ng Masa.

“She (Cojuangco) has no business representing farmers since she is a big landlord, referring to the Hacienda Luisita owned by the Cojuangco-Aquino clan,” a self-proclaimed election watchdog, Kontra-Daya, said.

Another personality seeking a seat in the House of Representatives as a party- lister is Leah Navarro, who is billed as first nominee of the Black and White Political Party. The Black and White Political Party is an ally of Aquino and campaigned for him for the presidency in 2010.

The Black and White Movement has as some of its members officials in Aquino’s Malacañang, such as Secretary Dinky Soliman (DSWD), Ging Deles (OPPAP), Edwin Lacierda (presidential spokesman), Alberto Lim (former DoT secretary), and Vicente Romano (former DoT Undersecretary), among others.

The group is also questioning the nomination of lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, a second nominee of Pasang Masda Nationwide Inc.

“Pasang Masda appears as a legitimate transport group but its second nominee does not belong to the transport sector,” said the Kontra Daya. Topacio served as legal counsel for former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, which to Kontra-Daya, an anti-Arroyo group, should be eliminated.

She is known to be the former partner of Iggy Arroyo, the late brother-in-law of Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“She is not only rich and powerful but she and her group have no serious track record of advocating for women and gender issues affecting the sector she claims to represent,” the group added.

Kontra Daya also questioned the nominees of the Agrarian Development Association (ADA) for having the Singsons as their first and second nominee, Eric Singson Sr., and current Ilocos Sur (2nd District) Rep. Eric “Owen” Singson, Jr., respectively.
Kontra Daya is also questioning the nominees of PL groups Ang Mata’y Alagaan (AMA); Alliance of Mindanao Elders; Abante Retirees Partylist Organization (Abante Retirees); Ilaw Ng Bayan (ILAW); AkoAngBatangSora (ABS); Ako Para Sa BatangPinoy; AkoKaray-A (AK); AkoBisaya Political Party (Ako Bisaya); Alliance Advocating Autonomy Party (1AAA Party); The True Marcos Loyalist For God, Country & People Association of the Phil., Inc. (Bantay); Abang Lingkod, Inc. (Abang Lingkod; 1 Joint Alliance of Marginalized Group (1JAMG).

Also questioned are Alay Buhay Community Development Foundation, Inc. (Alay Buhay); ALA-EH- Association of Local Athletics Entrepreneurs and Hobbyists Inc.; AGA (Ang Guardia Alliance); AAA –Aviation Advancement Advocates Inc.; FXD/MC (WWW. ForexDealers.Com Corp); 1Pinoy Para sa Kalikasan, Inc.; ASBI-Lakan (Aasenso Sa Barangay –Lakan, Inc.); 1-ASAL (1-AsalPartylist); Yes we Can; Sports Excellence for Healthier Life Journey (SEL-J); 1+1 Katipunan; Ang Minero; Abot Tanaw; Alliance for Rural and Agrarian Reconstruction Inc (Araro); Ang National Coalition of Indigenous People’s Action Na! Inc. (ANAC-IP); 1-WIL SERVE WIL; and Alliance for Reforms Towards Effective Management and Sustainable Development.

To view the list of groups and their respective nominees that are looking to be included in the final list of PLs running in the May 2013 polls, the public may visit the Comelec Web site: www.comelec.gov.ph. PNA