Ex-Comelec chief urges review of 'flawed' party-list law

The former chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged for the review of the party-list law, which he said was “bastardized" because the poll body accredited many party-list groups that allegedly do not represent the interest of marginalized groups. Former Comelec chairman Christian Monsod said on Sunday that Republic Act 7941 has to be revisited to ensure that elections will not be used by special interest groups. “I think it's been bastardized. So I think it's time to go back and review it all over, Monsod said. He said the party-list system “has gotten a bit out of control" because of the proliferation of groups that do not genuinely represent marginalized groups. “And that's way it is important to go back to the fundamentals and say why was the party list set up in the first place and why should every group that said its marginalized be registered as a party-list," Monsod said. Monsod said unless flaws in the party-list system are corrected, the Comelec would be swamped by numerous groups that are unqualified to become party-list organizations. “You'll always have people who will take a chance although they know they have very little [chances]. It's a matter of what's your real constituency," he said. He said there are more than 90 party-list groups accredited by the Comelec to join the May 14 midterm elections. Asked if it was possible that accreditation of party-lists are being sold at the Comelec, Monsod said: “I think that may be happening. And that has to be looked into by the Comelec very seriously." It was earlier reported that there were groups that allegedly paid P 7 million each in exchange for Comelec party-list accreditation. Akbayan Rep. Loretta Anne Rosales, earlier urged the poll body to disqualify at least 11 party list groups believed to be backed by the Arroyo government. Among the party list groups which Rosales tagged as front-organizations of the Arroyo administration are Babae Ka, Ang Kasangga, Akbay Pinoy, Aksyon Sambayanan (Aksa), Agbiag! Timpuyog Ilocano Inc., Ahon Pinoy, Biyaheng Pinoy, Aangat Tayo, Aangat ang Kabuhayan (Anak), Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Anad), Banat and Kakusa. - GMANews.TV