Letter to the editor - Comelec should disqualify bogus partylist groups

The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines) called on Commission on Election (Comelec) to disqualify bogus partylist groups who are obviously not marginalized and backed-up by the Arroyo administration, military and police.

The group believed that the Arroyo government is using the partylist system to horde up the lower house with individuals connected to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in preparation for the possible charter change, putting her as prime minister. This is after it the report that presidential son Rep. Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo is the first nominee of Ang Galing Pinoy Party-list, followed by Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, son of jueteng lord Bong Pineda and governatorial candidate Lilia Pineda.

This is really a bastardation of the partylist system. The partylist system is originally for the marginalized, unprivileged, voiceless like us farmers, but now, the president's son is using it to get into congress.

Everybody knows that Mikey Arroyo is not marginalized, worse, he benefits from the corruption of his mother. As a congressman, he was the leading operator of charter change at the House of Representatives and the provision of 100% foreign ownership of land is a big threat to farmers.

Ang Galing Pinoy's second nominee Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda is a lackey of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, belonging to the warlord Pineda family of Pampanga.

Dennis Pineda watched the latest demolition of houses of farming families in Bgy. Prado Siongco in Lubao last February. He is the mayor but he enjoyed watching the demolition of his constituents houses. His family is landgrabbing the 200-hectare lands the farmers are cultivating.

Comelec should disqualify Araro Partylist who is connected to the police and military. They claim that a local coordinator in Bgy. Tungkong Mangga confirmed that its first nominee is retired police Gen. Quirino Dela Torre.

Gen. Quirino Dela Torre served under Sen. Panfilo Lacson when he was still PNP Chief, Gen. Leandro Mendoza, Gen. Hermogenes Ebdane, Gen. Edgar Aglipay and Gen. Arturo Lumibao. He was the Regional Commander of Philippine National Police Central Luzon (PNP-CL) during the Hacienda Luisita Massacre in November 16, 2004. He was relieved by Gen. Aglipay after the massacre. On Gen. Arturo Lumibao's term as PNP Chief, Gen. Dela Torre served as head of Directorate for Comptrollership, then Directorate for Logistics. The PNP department that manages funds and procurement for the force.

When we heard Comptrollership, we remember AFP Gen. Carlos Garcia who was convicted of plunder. Thus, it is obviously very sensitive and deals with multi-million pesos funds. It is quite awkward a retired police general who dealt with huge funds representing farmers in congress.

On his retirement in 2005, he served as the security chief of former Comelec Chair Benjamen Abalos Sr., who resigned 2007 after being linked with the $329-million NBN-ZTE Broadband deal.

The group also said that he belongs to PMA Class of 1972 who adopted as honorary member, Diosdado "Buboy" Macapagal Jr., brother of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It has also been reported that he is living beyond his means, owning a big house in the swanky Fort Bonifacio area.

Also, in December 2009, KMP regional chapter Danggayan Dagiti Mannalon ti Cagayan Valley (Danggayan-CV) reported that the military has been campaigning for Araro in San Mariano, Isabela. The military is recruiting members for Araro in exchange for relief seeds and fertilizers, reportedly supplied by the Dept. of Agriculture. The military is also campaigning against Anakpawis Partylist who they claim are members of the New People's Army (NPA).

A president's son, gambling lord's son, a retired general connected to the NBN-ZTE deal, military campaigning for Araro and against Anakpawis Partylist, all connected to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, this is too much and should be acted upon immediately by the Comelec. The partylist system is the littlest venue this government could offer to the voiceless and powerless and yet, these vultures are on its taking.

We call on the sensible minds of the people to block the efforts of GMA to use the partylist system for her own interest, we must expose those who pose as for the interest of the marginalized but essentially for GMA's interest and their own selfish gains.

Danilo Ramos

Secretary-General

Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas