SIXTEEN more
party-list groups have been barred by the Commission on Elections
(Comelec) from participating in next year’s elections for their failure
to meet the requirements of the party-list system.
Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes identified the disqualified party-list groups as the
Philippine Coconut Producers Federation Inc., Alliance of Advocates in
Mining Advancement for National Progress, Bayani Party-list group,
Abang-Lingkod, Ang Agrikultura Natin Isulong, Agapay ng Indigenous
Peoples Rights Alliance Inc., Alliance for Mindanao Elders, Greenforce,
Firm 24-K Association Inc., Action League of Indigenous Masses, Alma sa
Pagkahikahos at Ignoransiya, Kaunlaran ng Agrikultura, Asensadong
Probinsya, Angat ng Bayan, Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy and
Smart-Social Movement for Active Reform and Transparency.
The Comelec also
canceled the registration as a party-list group of Kabalikat ng Bayan sa
Kaunlaran (Kabaka) and Alliance of Bikolnon Party (ABP) but retained
them as political parties.
Brillantes noted that
Kabaka, which is the political party of Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing, and
ABP can participate as a political party in the coming elections but
not under the party-list system.
Out of the 16 disqualified party-list groups, only Anad has an incumbent representative—Rep. Pastor Alcover Jr.
According to poll
watchdog group Kontra Daya, Anad is an adjunct of, and receives funding
and support from, the government, specifically the Armed Forces.
It noted that the
controversial Mayuga Report on the “Hello, Garci” scandal, revealed that
the Armed Forces has supported and assisted the Anad party-list in the
2004 national elections.
In the 2010 polls, Anad received a total vote of 297,984, thereby earning it one seat in the House of Representatives.
The Comelec en banc
also affirmed the denial of the application of Kalikasan Green Party of
the Philippines, A-Seamariners and Education Development Services for Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Edsa) as party-list groups.
“All of these cancellations were the unanimous decisions of the commission en banc,” Brillantes said.
Renounce armed struggle
MEANWHILE, People’s Advocacy
for Collaboration and Empowerment (PEACE) challenged the so-called
communist party-list groups (Copals) to denounce crimes and abandon
their armed struggle before they join the election process in the
country.
In a statement, PEACE
President Agnes Lopez said party-list groups such as Bayan Muna,
Gabriela, Anakpawis, Kabataan and other groups under the Makabayan
political coalition should not be allowed to participate in next year’s
midterm elections without first cutting their ties to the communist
movement.
Lopez said these
groups should swear before the Comelec that they are against the crimes
being committed by the communist New People’s Army (NPA).
“It’s either they
condemn the NPA’s crimes or get disqualified. If they have nothing to
hide and if they are not fronts of the Communist Party of the
Philippines, then there shouldn’t be any problem for them to publicly
denounce the atrocities of the NPA and renounce the armed struggle,”
Lopez said.
Refusal to do so, she said, should be construed as their affirmation that they are indeed fronts of the CPP.
Lopez said Copals have been using the party-list system to advance their armed struggle against the government.
“If they want to join
the elections, then they should give up their arms. They shouldn’t be
allowed to occupy seats in Congress and use taxpayer money to fund the
violent overthrow of our democracy,” Lopez said.
Lopez said several
members of PEACE who have returned to the fold of the government could
attest to Makabayan’s links to the communist movement.
“No less than [CPP
leader Jose Maria] Sison gives praise to these organizations, noting
that they are instrumental in the people’s struggle. Sison even gives
solidarity messages to their national conventions and congresses. Also,
books authored by Sison are even required readings by their mass
organizations,” Lopez said.
Lopez also added that
the links of the Makabayan party-list organizations to the NPA meant
that they were assured of votes and were exempted from paying
“permit-to-campaign” or PTC fees levied by the NPA on candidates
entering NPA-controlled territory.
Black and white out; disabled persons in
BRILLANTES also
announced that the poll body’s First Division has decided to deny the
application of Black and White Political Party to join the party-list
system.
The Black and White,
one of the groups that is supportive of President Aquino’s
administration, is seeking to get a slot in Congress in the May 2013
elections.
The poll body said the
group failed to prove “through its articles of incorporation, bylaw,
history and track record that it represents and seeks to uplift the
marginalized sectors of women, youth and urban poor.”
“Like the purposes of
its incorporation, its history shows that Black and White is primarily
an advocacy group for good governance,” the Comelec said in a 12-page
resolution.
Several members of
Black and White are not occupying key positions in the Aquino
administration. Among them are Palace Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, Social
Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman and Presidential Peace Adviser Ging
Deles.
Despite the ruling,
Brillantes said the group can still appeal their case before the
commission en banc five days after receipt of the decision.
Comelec First Division
Presiding Commissioner Rene Sarmiento and Commissioner Armando Velasco
voted for the decision, while Commissioner Christian Lim took no part.
Brillantes also announced on Wednesday that the poll body has approved the application to join the party-list system of Pilipino With Disabilities (PWD).
He noted that the
commission en banc unanimously approved PWD’s accreditation since its
members are composed of disabled persons including its nominees.
“They are represented
by Filipinos. All of them are disabled, all members, all nominees. Right
now, we don’t have the representation of the disabled,” Brillantes.
Brillantes even said he hopes PWD will get enough votes to have a representative in Congress.
