Letter to the editor: Protect the voice of the marginalized in Congress

CEBU, Philippines – The recent inaction of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) over the administration backed partylists that join the partylists electoral race is a mockery of the essence of the Republic Act 7941 also known as the Party-List System Act.

The fielding of administration backed partylists is purely one of the Arroyo government's dirty maneuvers to strengthen its stronghold in congress. Even so, the Comelec has been tolerating these pseudo partylists, when simple logic tells us that these groups does not represent the true voice of the marginalized sector in our society.

One cannot fathom why Gloria Arroyo's son, relatives and allies serve as nominees of bogus partylist groups that represent trisikad drivers, balot vendors and the like. Mikey Arroyo, President's eldest son and the nominee of the so-called Ang Galing Pinoy Partylist that claims to represent trisikad drivers, ironically has a declared amount of 99.2 million in his 2008 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN).

Even an AFP-vigilante group posing as partylist has been prostituting the partylist system for quite a time, but the Comelec has also been tolerating its existence. While the said vigilante partylist cannot even clearly define what marginalized and under-represented sector it represents, it is obsessed on maligning and harassing progressive partylist groups that truly represent the marginalized.

The Party-List System Act is defined supposedly to become the vehicle of the marginalized and under-represented sectors, organizations and parties to present their legislative agenda in the lower house which may be beneficial to their constituents and to the nation as a whole.

However, the Arroyo government is using the partylist system as backdoor entrance for its allies to build an Arroyo stronghold in the lower house. We believe that this is part of the orchestrated effort of Arroyo's plan to become the Speaker of the House and to amend the constitution.

Thus, we condemn the blatant mockery of the Arroyo government on the true essence of the partylist system.

We urge the Comelec to purge its list from fake partylist groups to save the integrity of the partylist system and protect the genuine representation of the marginalized and under represented in congress.

We urge the Filipino people to be vigilant and to expose and oppose all dirty maneuvers of the Arroyo regime to perpetuate itself in power.

Vimarie Arcilla

Public Information Officer

KARAPATAN-Central Visayas