By Brian Campued
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday announced the suspension of the proclamation of Duterte Youth and Bagong Henerasyon (BH) party-list groups due to the pending cases filed against them before the poll body.
During the proclamation ceremony for the winning party-list organizations at the The Manila Hotel Tent City, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the “serious allegations” raised in the petitions filed against the two party-lists involved “grave violations of election laws, “The National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) resolves to suspend the proclamation of Duterte Youth party-list and Bagong Henerasyon party-list until the speedy and judicious resolution of the petitions filed before the Clerk of Commission.”
At least 59 of the 63 total seats for party-list representatives will be occupied by the 52 winning groups, with the remaining four seats for Duterte Youth (three seats) and BH (one seat) still pending per the Comelec’s decision.
Akbayan party-list and Tingog party-list—ranked first and third, respectively—also earned three seats each for receiving at least 2% of the total voters cast for the party-list polls.
Three party-list groups got two seats each: Pagtibayin at Palaguin ang Pangkabuhayang Pilipino (4Ps), Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support Inc. (ACT-CIS), and Ako Bicol.
The following 47 party-list groups, meanwhile, will be given one seat each:
- USWAG-Ilonggo
- Solid North
- Trabaho
- Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC)
- Malasakit@bayanihan
- Senior Citizen
- Pwersa ng Pilipinong Pandagat (PPP)
- Mamamayang Liberal (ML)
- FPJ Panday Bayanihan
- United Senior Citizens
- Kababaihan Kabalikatan para sa Kapakanan at Kaunlaran ng Bayan (4K)
- LPG Marketers Association (LPGMA)
- Cooperative – National Confederation of Cooperatives (COOP-NATCCO)
- Ako Bisaya
- Construction Workers Solidarity (CWS)
- Pinoy Workers
- Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines, Inc. (AGAP)
- Asenso Pinoy
- Agimat
- Talino at Galing ng Pinoy (TGP)
- Social Amelioration and Genuine Intervention on Poverty (Sagip)
- Alliance of Organizations, Networks and Associations (Alona)
- 1-Rider Partylist
- Kamanggagawa
- Galing sa Puso (GP)
- Kamalayan
- Bicol Saro
- Kasug Tausug
- ACT-Teachers
- One Coop
- Kilos Mamamayan (KM) Ngayon Na
- Abante Mindanao (Abamin)
- Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP)
- Kabataan
- Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC)
- Magbubukid
- 1Tahanan
- Ako Ilocano Ako
- Manila Teachers
- Nanay
- Kabalikat Patungo sa Umuunlad na Sistematiko at Organisadong Pangkabuhayan (Kapuso PM)
- SSS-GSIS Pensyonado
- Drivers United for Mass Progress and Equal Rights – Philippines Taxi Drivers Association (Dumper PTDA)
- Abang Lingkod
- Pusong Pinoy
- Solo Parent Working for Economic Rights and other Thrusts for Equality (Swerte); and
- Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc. (PHILRECA)
In his opening speech, Garcia underscored the role of party-list groups in amplifying the voices of the marginalized and other sectors that are not represented enough in the Congress, “Sa ilalim ng ating konstitusyon, binuo ang party-list system bilang mekanismo upang matiyak na ang kapangyarihang pambatas ay hindi lamang umiikot sa mayorya—sa halip ito’y dinisenyong dumaloy patungo sa mga gilid at laylayan ng lipunan, sa mga sektor na madalas napag-iiwanan ngunit may mahalagang boses sa pambasang usapin.”
However, the Comelec chief also renewed his call for the review on the party-list system and urged the winning groups to be allies in advocating for reforms, “Habang kinikilala natin ang mga legal na paghubog ng sistema, naniniwala rin kaming nararapat itong suriin muli—hindi sa pagbatikos, kundi sa diwa ng kababaang-loob. Umaasa kaming ang pagsusuring ito ay magbubunga ng isang sistemang lalong magsisilbi sa esensiya ng representasyon, katarungan, at pagkakapantay-pantay.”
-jpv
