Comelec approves Mikey Arroyo’s party-list bid

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has allowed presidential son and Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey" Arroyo to be a nominee of a party-list supposedly promoting the rights of tricycle drivers and security guards. In a joint resolution on May 7, the poll body dismissed two separate disqualification cases filed last March by Nacionalista Party senatorial bets Liza Maza and Satur Ocampo, and party-list group Bayan Muna due to “lack of merit." The Comelec said Arroyo has satisfied all qualifications for a party-list nominee stated in Section 9 of Republic Act 7941 or the Party-list System Act. The Comelec said Arroyo has been a bona fide member of the Ang Galing Pinoy Party-list since November 2009 and has “actively supported and advanced the projects and programs of the party." “Evidently, therefore, the respondent had clearly immersed himself with the hopes and aspirations of the party and the sector it represents. He has as much right to be a nominee as any other member of the party," the resolution read. The militant lawmakers and party-list group earlier questioned before the Comelec Mikey’s bid as a party-list bet, saying he cannot possibly represent tricycle drivers and security guards, and that Ang Galing Pinoy is a “bogus" party-list. [see: Mikey disqualification as party-list bet sought] —LBG, GMANews.TV