Party-list – a swordof Damocles to the COMELEC

The coming election is just around the corner. Is the COMELEC ready? Have they found solutions to the Smartmatic-automated system? Have there been thorough investigations done on those accused of vote buying, vote rigging, coercion etc.? Is there a stronger awareness campaign to educate the Filipino electorate to vote wisely?

Apart from the release of the P5 billion budget to assure readiness of the poll body, the COMELEC seems to be stricter as it scrutinizes matters on hand like the party-list groups. To date the COMELEC has cancelled the accreditation of more than 15 party-list groups.

What exactly is the party-list system? It is any system of proportional representation in which voters choose among parties rather than among candidates. Votes are awarded to parties in proportion to the votes they receive. Most countries in Europe, as well as Russia, South Africa and Israel favor some form of party-list system because it opens up the political process beyond one or two dominating political parties.

A party-list system can help create a healthy democracy, providing a citizens’ voice in Congress and in local government. The Philippine party-list system aims to increase the representation, particularly of “marginalized and underrepresented” sectors and enhance transparency and accountability, leading to a more efficient government.

The party-list system is based on Republic Act 7941 which was signed into law on March 3, 1995. In keeping with the call for “new politics”, this system reflects the move towards program-based politics focused on competent parties with comprehensive programs rather than on personalities and “trapos”.

We were first introduced to this system during the May 1998 elections. One hundred twenty three party-list organizations registered but only 13 (with a total of 14 representatives), including Akbayan and Sanlakas, received 2% of total votes. Of the 80% total voter turnout, only 26% cast their party-list vote. This was expected as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) failed to conduct a comprehensive information campaign. As a result, 38 party-list seats in Congress were not filled.

In 2001, there were 162 party-list organizations which participated in the elections. Eventually, a number were disqualified and only four parties were proclaimed to have won seats in the House. Later, eight more were proclaimed to have been elected to Congress, although getting a seat much later, a number only this year, just a few months from the next elections. Comelec reported that 11,434,554 party-list votes were cast, 42% of the total 35,297,479 voters.

In the May 2004 elections, progressive party-list organizations fielded local candidates across the country as part of their so-called commitment to improve local governance, strengthen local government units and make them accessible and accountable to the people. They were also meant to support progressive senatorial bets as well as campaign against corrupt and turncoat candidates, those who consistently take anti-people positions on crucial national issues and incompetents or non-performers who personify the worst in traditional politics and are dangerous in this democracy.

Recently, the party-list system has been receiving criticism not only for its seemingly misguided objectives and directions but also for allowing even millionaires to run as party-list representatives. Many believe that party-list groups are created for convenience as in the case of Galing Pinoy party of Rep. Mikey Arroyo. This party is allegedly accused as a platform to sustain the candidacy of GMA’s son, who as we all know gave way to his mother to ran for his old post as the Pampanga representative.

Another issue involves a party-list group associated with President Benigno Aquino III – Akbayan which critics want disqualified. Since P-Noy assumed office, he has been appointing several Akbayan leaders to government posts, thus, making this group far from being marginalized. This has placed the President in a compromising situation. We all know for a fact that P-Noy and his family do not belong to the marginalized group. I think it is best that he and his family, particularly his sisters should veer away from associating with groups that would label them as partisans to an act that is contradictory to what the law states.

Ako Bicol, the party-list group that won by the biggest margin in the last elections, has been disqualified by the COMELEC from running in the 2013 polls. COMELEC Chief Brillantes explained that the group is a registered political party, not a marginalized people’s representative. This is no longer new because in 2010 Ako Bicol had already faced a disqualification case for allegedly violating the party-list law, which allows only the marginalized and underrepresented sectors to participate. The rich prominent Co family in Albay was said to be the rich backer of the group with funding coming from the family’s companies. As a matter of fact there were also talks going around that time that GMA had a hand in the creation of Ako Bicol.

Some Senators recently expressed their sentiments and opposition to this “purging” move of the COMELEC. They are in fact asking the COMELEC to explain the series of such disqualifications. While I truly understand their point of view, I am also of the belief that COMELEC is doing the right thing. The Party-list system has become a contributing factor in the successful creation of political dynasties. It is also being used for the formation of groups who can actually disrupt the normal course in the implementation of the laws of the land. In other words, it has been abused more for convenience of the powerful and almighty. Susmariosep!

It is very important that the COMELEC follow the criteria to screen party-list groups in as much as the list of applicants has reached 299 groups consisting of 127 old ones and 172 new organizations. The agency must identify which of these groups truly represent the country’s marginalized and underprivileged by looking at the track record of those who are already existing and closely scrutinizing the background of the new applicants.

To those who are questioning the disqualifications, I think it is time that they see reason and accept the truth that there are really certain party-list groups who do not cater to the marginalized and underprivileged as target beneficiaries. Let us not forget that the government came up with the party-list system to provide an opportunity for “minority” groups to be represented in the House. Republic Act 7941 authorizes House representation for sectors that include labor, peasant, fisher folk, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, elderly, handicapped, women, youth, veterans, overseas workers and professionals.

The possibility of having more serious problems with the party-list groups hangs over the head of the COMELEC like the sword of Damocles. COMELEC Chairman Sixto Brillantes is right in saying that party-lists should exercise “mutual respect” and “civility,” in this issue. Public debates are welcome but there is no need to resort to violence and commit disrespectful and vulgar acts just to make a point.”