The Philippine Online Chronicles

The poll watch group Kontra Daya has asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ban six party-list groups from the elections for supposedly being fronts for the government.

In a letter to Comelec head Jose Melo, Kontra Daya said that the groups Batang Iwas Droga (BIDA), Adhikain ng mga Dakilang Anak ng Maharlika (ADAN), Agbiag Timpuyog Ilokano (AGBIAG), Babae para sa Kaunlaran (BABAE KA), League of Youth for Peace and Development (LYPAD), and Kalahi Advocates for Overseas Filipinos (KALAHI) were all under the control of the government or government allies.

"For the 2010 elections, we can already see a concerted effort on the part of the allies of [President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration] to use the party-list system so that they can remain in power as members of the Congress," said Kontra Daya.

They pointed out that ADAM was formed by Energy Undersecretary Zamsamin Ampatuan, of the Ampatuans of Maguindanao who are known to be allies of the President. Similarly, both BIDA and BIGKIS are connected to Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chair Ephraim C. Genuino.

Kontra Daya also said that AGBIAG, BABAE KA, LYPAD, and KALAHI were mentioned in a Malacañang memorandum dated October 16, 2006 outlining a “party-list campaign” in support of these groups.

“We urge the Comelec to immediately conduct an investigation and a public hearing on the issues raised,” Kontra Daya said. “This can serve as an initial step in correcting the abuses of the party-list system.”

A Supreme Court (SC) ruling back in 2001 stated that a party-list organization “must not be an adjunct of, or a project organized or an entity funded or assisted by, the government."

According to Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal however, the party-lists mentioned have already passed Comelec’s rigorous accreditation process.

He added that Kontra Daya’s complaints should have been brought up their complaints earlier, saying, "When parties file for accreditation, the petitions are published. All parties are allowed to file opposition."

“All the people [opposed to the party-lists] can do is not vote for them," he said.