Comelec snubs complaints vs 'pro-Arroyo' party-list groups

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday stood pat on its decision not to disqualify nominees of party-list organizations accused of being “administration fronts". “Until their party gets elected there is no procedure to disqualify the nominees of any party-list group. It will defeat the purpose of electing the party and not (the) individual," said lawyer Alioden Dalaig, head of the Comelec’s legal department. Akbayan Rep. Loretta Ann Rosales earlier chided the Comelec for not acting on the complaints for disqualification of 12 party-list organizations tagged as fronts of the Arroyo government. The Comelec recently accredited the party-list groups' participation in the May 14 midterm elections. Dalaig said Comelec can only act on the complaints “once they (party-list nominees) have won already. “The law does not state any provision wherein nominees may be disqualified before the elections," he said. Akbayan said that based on their research, three of these groups are identified with Sigaw ng Bayan led by Raul Lambino. She said Sigaw pushed last year for the Palace-backed Charter Change through people’s initiative. The three are Babae Ka! Ang Kasangga and Akbay Pinoy. Meanwhile, she said seven of the groups are either led or founded by individuals who hold government positions or have links with government officials while another group was described as an umbrella organization of anti-communist forces in the country. The seven are: Aksa, Kakusa, Ahon Pinoy, Biyaheng Pinoy, Aangat Tayo, Aangat ang Kabuhayan and Agbiag. Akbayan meanwhile said Anad is the anti-communist party-list group. The 12th group, the Barangay Association for National Advancement and Transparency or BANAT led by Lambino himself as nominee, can no longer participate in the May polls because it has been disqualified by the Comelec last month, Rosales said. Dalaig however clarified that under the party-list law, sectoral organizations can be disqualified before elections. The Urban Poor for Legal Reforms (UP-LR) and Bantay R.A. 7941 (the law that created the party-list system) have sought the disqualification of 44 sectoral nominees led by Biyaheng Pinoy bets lawyer Jesus Cruz and Dr. Arsenio Abalos. The two groups argue that Cruz, being the incumbent vice mayor of Mandaluyong City, and Abalos, brother of Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr, could not represent Biyaheng Pinoy which is a tricycle drivers’ organization. Myrna Porcare, UP-LR secretary general, said some people have sought the “bastardization" of the party-list system to deprive the poor from being represented in government. “Do you believe that a transport group would be represented by a doctor who is a brother of the chairman and by one who is a vice mayor?," she asked. “The party-list system was set up for the poor. The way it is happening now, the rich are stealing the rights of the poor," she added. The poll body’s legal department has been refusing media access to the list of party-list nominees saying that doing so would defeat the spirit of sectoral representation. The 41 party list groups whose nominees are being asked to be disqualified are: Biyaheng, Pinoy; Aksyon Sambayanan; Filipinos for Peace, Justice and Progress Movement; Alliance of Volunteer Educators, The True Marcos Loyalist Inc.; Kapatiran ng mga Nakakulong na Walang Sala; Barangay Association for National Advancement and Transparency; Alay sa Bayan ng Malayang Propesyonal and Repormang Kalakal; Babae Para sa Kaunlaran; Abante Ilonggo; Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines Inc.; Bago National Cultural Society of the Philippines; Angat Antas Kabuhayan Pilipino Movement; Ahon Pinoy; Arts Business and Science Professional; Ang Galing Pinoy; Abgbiag Timpuyog Ilocano Inc.; Asosasyon ng Maliliit na Negosyanteng Gumaganap Inc.; Sulong Barangay Movement; Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta; Aangat Tayo; Association of Administrators, Professionals and Seniors; Kasosyo Producer-Consumer Exchange; Kasangga sa Kaunlaran Inc.; United Movement Against Drugs; Parents Enabling Parents; Akbay Pinoy OFW-National Inc.; Alliance of People's Organizations; Alliance of Neo-Conservatives; Angat Ating Kabuhayan; 1-United Transport Koalisyon; Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Mamamayan Inc.; Alliance for Barangay Concerns; Hanay ng Aping Pinoy; Biyayang Bukid; Bagong Alyansang Tagapagtaguyod ng Adhikaing Sambayanan; Ang Laban ng Indihinong Filipino; Alagad; Bigkis Pinoy Movement; Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy; and Abay-Parak. -GMANews.TV