Security guards, trike driver seek Mikey's disqualification

NO LESS than the sectors he wanted to represent, security guards and tricycle drivers, filed a disqualification case against Representative Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo at the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET).

Two security guards Rowell Pino, Danilo Antipasado and Ronald Estrella, a tricycle driver sought the delistment of Arroyo, saying he did not belong to the marginalized group.

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The complainants noted that Arroyo was not a member of the Ang Galing Pinoy party-list since he has not been a member of the group for at least 90 days, the minimum tenure required by law.

The petitioners stated that the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to allow Arroyo to sit as party-list representative is "damaging" not only to the party-list system but also to the interest of the true marginalized and underrepresented.

"It will also violate the constitutional provision on the party list system and the intent of the party-list law to give the marginalized and underrepresented such as the petitioners, a voice in Congress," the petition cited.

Besides, the petitioners said, Arroyo cannot represent the marginalized because his statement of income showed that his assets amount to nearly P100 million.

The petitioners added that he is ineligible to sit as party-list representative because he was an incumbent congressman of Pampanga at the time when he was nominated, which is prohibited by the party-list law.

Former Akbayan party-list Representative Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday also filed the same complaint to the HRET. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)