The formula could have been decided much earlier and as in previous elections, the Comelec could make an early proclamation for groups that have clearly reached the minimum number of votes even with the uncanvassed results. This delay betrays Comelec’s dismissive attitude toward the party-list system.
From the accreditation of the so-called administration fronts to its refusal to divulge the names of party-list nominees, the Comelec has displayed gross inefficiency and has mangled the law and existing jurisprudence on the party-list system. This delay adds insult to injury.
The failure to proclaim winning party-lists is tantamount to denying voters of the right to representation.
The votes have been cast, and a huge majority have already been counted. We would now like to perform and exercise the mandate that our constituents gave us.
Due to the delay, Akbayan’s legislative work in Congress is suffering from delays. Our nominee couldn’t file the party’s bills in Congress, putting us in a bind.
While we are grateful that some of our allies in Congress have filed our bills, our constituents, who have worked with us for several years in advancing progressive bills inside and outside Congress, expect Akbayan to begin working for the bill’s passage immediately.
What makes it worse is that the House secretariat is on the verge of evicting representative from the office.
Once proclaimed, Akbayan nominee Risa Hontiveros aims to file 42 bills immediately, including the human rights compensation bill, the proposed amendments to the patents law to lower the price of medicines, proposed amendments to the party-list law, the security of tenure and anti-contractualization bills, the reproductive health bill, the SK Reform bill, the repeal of BP 880, the lesbian and gay rights (or Anti-Discrimination) bill, the income tax reduction bill, the Philippine Environmental Impact Assessment Enhancement bill, amendments to the Philhealth law to introduce reference pricing, and amendments to the Milk Code.
