MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) Second Division has dismissed the two disqualification cases filed against Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo as a nominee of party-list group Ang Galing Pinoy (AGP), saying that “he had clearly immersed himself with the hopes and aspirations of the party and the sector it represents.”
In a joint resolution, the Second Division dismissed the separate petitions filed by Nacionalista Party (NP) senatorial bets Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza and party-list Bayan Muna and nominee Neri Colmenares for “lack of merit.”
The petitioners alleged that Arroyo should be disqualified as a nominee as “he cannot, by any stretch of imagination, be considered a member of the marginalized sector and no logic can ever justify his nomination to represent AGP or any party-list for that matter.”
They noted that Arroyo, being a Pampanga congressman and a son of President Arroyo, was obviously not qualified to be a nominee of AGP, which claims to represent security guards, in Congress.
In his reply, Arroyo urged the Comelec to junk the petitions, insisting that they were improperly filed and served and that he “is qualified to be nominee of AGP as he belongs to the said organization.”
The Second Division ruled that Arroyo met the qualifications for party-list nominees as set in Republic Act 7941 or the Party-List System Act of 1995.
“Any member of the party-list group of good standing, whether belonging to the majority or not, is entitled to be nominated by the party for the law merely requires that the party-list nominee must be a bona fide member of the party or organization which he seeks to represent for at least 90 days preceding the day of the election,” said the resolution signed by Second Division Commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer, Lucenito Tagle and Ellias Yusoph.
The Comelec said Arroyo became a member of the AGP in Nov. 20, 2009 and since then has “actively participated in its undertakings” and “adhered to its advocacies such as the AGP National Convention; Butil Palay para sa Kaunlaran Project; annual Christmas party; Lubao Delta Riders Uniforms and Mike Delta Force Uniforms.
“Arroyo likewise actively supported and advanced the projects and programs of the party by regularly attending its meetings, livelihood and skills program and farmers’ day activities,” the resolution stated.
Militants hit Comelec decision
Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes assailed the Comelec ruling, saying the poll body has now raised suspicions that it is not independent of Malacañang and the Arroyos.
“It could have helped the Comelec gain some credibility. With the junking of the disqualification petition, Comelec now raises suspicion that it is under the thumb of the Arroyos,” Reyes added.
Representative Teddy Casiño said he is mulling an impeachment complaint against Comelec officials who allowed Arroyo to be the AGP’s nominee.
“Allowing megarich, super powerful Mikey as party-list nominee compromised Comelec’s integrity, and they may have committed an impeachable offense,” he said.
“Allowing an incumbent district congressman from the ruling party, who is the multi-millionaire son of a sitting President, to run as a party-list representative removes any and all obstacles for wealthy, powerful and influential politicians to steal the party-list system from the truly marginalized and underrepresented,” he stressed.
The young Arroyo has time and again defended his decision to be an AGP nominee and reminded his critics that he is not doing anything illegal.
“What needs to be answered here is whether my nomination as a party-list representative is illegal or not,” he said. “If they cannot prove it is illegal, then they should stop all attempts to block my candidacy and simply focus on their own campaign,” he said. With Delon Porcalla.