POLL watchdog Kontra Daya 2010 filed Monday a complaint letter with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) pointing out the questionable groups that will participate in the upcoming party-list elections.
Kontra Daya group files a complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding "questionable" party-list organizations. (Sunnex/Kathrina Alvarez)
The group is particularly pertaining to organizations that are allied or supported by the administration under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“We are dismayed that some individual government officials are reportedly being considered for nomination by certain party-list groups,” the letter addressed to Comelec chairman Jose Melo read.
Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes and presidential son Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo are among the early nominations that attracted negative comments from different individuals and groups.
Reyes is reportedly a nominee for 1-United Transport Koalisyon (Utak) and Arroyo for Ang Galing Party (AGP).
Among those included in the letter of the watchdog are party-list groups Batang Iwas Droga (Bida), Adhikain ng mga Dakilang Anak ng Maharlika (Adam), Agbiag Timpuyong Ilocano (Agbiag), Babae para sa Kaunlaran (Babae Ka), League of Youth for Peace and Development (Lypad), and Kalahi Advocates for Overseas Filipinos (Kalahi).
According to the letter, Bida declares itself as "the brainchild of Pagcor Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ephraim Genuino."
The Adam party-list group meanwhile has for its first nominee Energy Undersecretary Zamzamin Ampatuan, a nephew of former Maguidanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., said Kontra Daya.
The other four organizations were said to be identified in a Malacanang memorandum to be supported in a party-list campaign that aimed to "provide full support to several Comelec-accredited (party-list) groups that are ascertained to be pro-administration and ensure the winning of nine to 12 seats in the House of Representatives."
"Comelec cannot turn a blind eye to the clear pattern of abuse and distortion of the party-list system being done under Arroyo administration," the letter furthered.
The deadline for submission of party-list nominees is set on March 26.
For his part, Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said the commission will issue to the public a copy of the list of party-list nominees, days after the deadline of submission.
He also welcomed the complaint of Kontra Daya since any individual or group has the right to oppose a party-list's accreditation.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, meanwhile, noted that although it will be too late for the commission to junk a particular accreditation of a party-list group, it will still ensure to "act immediately" on the poll watchdog's claims.
“Kung nandiyan yung ebidenysa and its staring you at the face at tama yung ebidensiya, you really have to think on what you can and cannot do...but based on our calendar, tapos na yung (pag-screen sa party-list groups),” said Jimenez.
Party-list groups are meant to represent sectors of society that have no representations.
The Comelec has approved 187 party-list groups.
Larrazabal and Jimenez met with officials of Kontra Daya group and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) Monday afternoon to discuss their concerns.
"We were able to discuss a lot of things including ballot production to the state of Comelec readiness and again, isa sa pinakamalaking baggay na pinaguusapan natin ay yung party-list accreditation. Everything went smoothly,” Jimenez told reporters. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)