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Monday, April 16, 2007
Party-list system needs review: Monsod
MANILA-- The party-list system has been “bastardized” and it is time for a reassessment of the Republic Act (RA) 7941, the law that set it in place, former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Christian Monsod said Sunday.
Monsod’s statement came amid accusations that Malacañang controls some of the groups running in the party-list system.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
“I think it’s been bastardized. So I think it’s time to go back and review it all over,” Monsod said.
He said a number of groups that do not represent any marginalized sector are registering and seeking accreditation from the Comelec to be able to participate in the party-list elections. This, he said, is a clear indication that there had been problems in the system.
“I think the system has gotten a bit out of control. And that’s way it is important to go back to the fundamentals and say why was the party-list set up in the first place and why should every group that said its marginalized be registered as a party-list,” he said.
Monsod said unless the issue is addressed, thousands of groups that want a seat in Congress will be participating in every elections and it will always be a problem to the system.
“You’ll always have people who will take a chance although they know they have very little (chances). It’s a matter of what’s your real constituency,” he said.
Asked if there is a possibility that party-list accreditation will be sold by unscrupulous Comelec officials, Monsod said, “I think that may happen.”
Akbayan party-list Representative Loreta Anne Rosales earlier asked the election body to disqualify party-list groups that she accused of being backed by the Arroyo government.
Among the party-list groups that Rosales tagged as “frontline” organizations of the Arroyo administration are Babae Ka, Ang Kasangga, Akbay Pinoy, Aksyon Sambayanan, Agbiag! Timpuyog Ilocano Inc., Ahon Pinoy, Biyaheng Pinoy, Aangat Tayo, Aangat ang Kabuhayan, Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy, Banat and Kakusa.
National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, meanwhile, said it would be for the benefit of voters if Comelec reveals the nominees of the different party-list groups. He said this will inform the public who would sit in Congress if they vote for certain sectoral groups.
“It would be best if the Comelec identified these nominees because while it is true that the party-list groups are the candidates, their nominees will be the ones sitting in Congress if they win. The people deserve to know who these nominees are,” said Gonzalez, chairman of the Partido Demokratikong Sosyalista ng Pilipinas. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (April 16, 2007 issue)
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