The Philippine Online Chronicles

Have you heard or read anything about the party-list system or not? Chances are high that you may have heard of the party list system but nearly seven out of 10 respondents in a Pulse Asia survey admitted they were still “unaware” of the party-list sytem and its functions in government, despite its 12-year existence.

What is the party-list system in the first place?

The party-list system, also called sectoral representation, was passed in 1998 under Republic Act 7941.  A basic requirement is that a party or an organization must truly represent the “marginalized and underprivileged” sectors such as labor, peasant, fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, elderly, handicapped, women, youth, veterans, overseas workers, and professionals.

Each party-list representative is entitled to all the perks enjoyed by regular congressmen, including the annual multimillion-peso pork barrel allocation.

The current level of awareness of the party-list system is just about half of the awareness level posted in April 2007 survey where nearly six out of ten Filipinos knew about the party-list system.

Political analyst Gladstone Cuarteros said there were just “too many choices” in the party-list elections.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño Jr. puts the blame on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the lack of voters' education.

“Matagal na naming nire-raise ang issue na ito (We have raised this issue for a long time). Why don't they have a program to educate the electorate on the party-list system?” said Casiño.

The survey results are not as disturbing as the possibility of pseudo party-lists and “power bloc” in congress.

Let’s take a look at each of the following cases.

1. What is not known to the electorate is that the administration may be attempting to use the party-list system to form a “power-bloc” in Congress to include President Arroyo - once she secures a seat in the House of Representatives - her family members, and her former Cabinet officials.

The party-list system is supposed to be for the marginalized or underrepresented. However, over the past years, through the efforts of (President) Arroyo and the Comelec, the party-list system has been undermined and corrupted to favor the incumbent in Malacañang,” said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr.

According to Bayan, those partylist groups previously identified with the administration who are accredited for 2010 include :

• Agbiag Timpuyo Ilokano (AGBIAG) – previously cited in Office of External Affairs (OEA) memo
• Ahon Pinoy (AHON) – previous nominee was Dante “Klink” Ang II, son of Dante Ang who chaired the Commission on Filipinos Overseas
• Akbay Pinoy OFW-National (APOI) – previous nominees included former Arroyo DILG officials
• Aangat Ating Kabuhayan Filipinas (ANAK)- previous nominee included an official of PNP-NCRPO
• Babae para sa Kaunalaran (Babae Ka) – previously cited in OEA memo
• Bigkis Pinoy Movement (BIGKIS) – identified with PAGCOR chair Efraim Genuino
• Byaheng Pinoy Labor Association (Byaheng Pinoy) – previous nominee was brother of former COMELEC chair Abalos
• Kalahi Sectoral Party (KALAHI)- previously cited in OEA memo
• League of Youth for Peace Advancement (LYPAD)- previously cited in OEA memo

Bayan based its findings on a list drafted by poll watchdog Kontra Daya in 2007 and on a 2006 memorandum from the Office on External Affairs in Malacanang which identified administration partylist groups to be supported.

In its 2007 list, Kontra-Daya also cited these  party-list groups identified with the administration.

• Aangat Tayo (AT)
• BANTAY
• BANAT
• Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD)
• Kasangga sa Kaunlaran (Ang Kasangga)

Ang Kasangga’s congressional representative is a sister of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. The Bigkis Pinoy Movement (BIGKIS) identified with PAGCOR chair Efraim Genuino as another questionable partylist group is also accredited by the Comelec. The group’s previous nominee include Sheryl Genuino-See, the daughter of PAGCOR chair Genuino. The group failed to get elected to Congress the past three elections.

“Isn’t it the rule that if a party-list group fails to participate or obtain at least 2 percent of the votes cast under the party-list system in the two preceding elections, they are to be de-listed? Why is it that that rule doesn’t seem to apply to a party-list group that is identified with PAGCOR and Sheryl Genuino-See, daughter of the PAGCOR chairman.

The administration’s strategy has always been to field many party-list groups to draw votes away from legitimate party-list groups, many of which are anti-administration.

2. On the other hand, Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) Party-list Rep. Pastor “Jun” Alcover calls Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Akbayan and Gabriela as “pseudo party-lists,” as he vowed to expose the members of the House of Representatives who are allegedly supporting the communist movement.

He said these “communist” congressmen allegedly use the Priority Development Assistance Fund in areas where there are members of the National Democratic Front and New People’s Army.

3. Bantay  is just a “pseudo-party list led by retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, [who is] known for his bloody [record on] human rights” and loyalty to the Arroyo administration, said Kabataan Party list Rep. Raymond Palatino. Bantay, which won one seat in Congress during the 2007 elections, claims to represent members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit and security guards.

“Palparan is gloating at the fact that he gets to sit in Congress and terrorize the public anew. He owes his latest position to the support given by Malacañang and the AFP for his congressional bid in 2007. Can there be any question as to where his loyalties lie now?" said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr.

So which is  the pseudo- party list and the legitimate party list group in the list of 187 Party List Groups ?

Do we allow questionable backgrounds to represent marginalized sectors in Congress? The disclosure of party-list nominees is a crucial aspect of transparency in the elections.  Once the   Comelec makes public the nominees, it is easier to analyze and pinpoint the pseudo-party list groups.

Remember party-list groups are supposed to be the voice for change. Make sure your choice is based on platforms for the marginalized sector and not just on their desire for political power.

Below are   party-list groups that received more than two percent (2%) of the votes from the Pulse Asia respondents – enough for a party-list group to get a seat at the House of Representatives. Take note that Ahon Pinoy and Aangat Tayo were identified with the administration by poll watchdog Kontra Daya in 2007.

• Bayan Muna – 8.03 percent
• 1-Aangat Pilipino – 6.34 percent
• Anakpawis – 5.88 percent
• Gabriela Women's Party-list – 5.55 percent
• Akbayan Citizens Action Party – 5.07 percent
• Ahon Pinoy – 3.32 percent  (identified with the administration)
• Aangat Tayo – 3.22 percent   (identified with the administration)
• Anak Mindanao – 2.80 percent
• Abono – 2.59 percent

Here is a list of the 187 Party List Groups while this list is divided into four tabs: "1-A to AKB," "AKO to ANAK," "ANG to COOP," and "DAM to YOU."

Photo by Gilbert Engay, MRS-PRIB / 20 May 2009, taken from Congress website. Speaker Prospero C. Nograles (Left) formally administers the oath of office to three new party-list members of the House of Representatives. (R-L) Reps. Raymond V. Palatino (KABATAAN), Neil Benedict A. Montejo (An Waray) and Vigor Ma. D. Mendoza (1-UTAK).

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