A TOTAL of 185 party-list organizations have submitted the list of their respective nominees to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the party-list race in the May 10 polls.
There were outstanding personalities in the list of nominees. Among them were former Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, first nominee of 1-Utak; former police general Romeo Maganto for Sagip party, and Bantay’s Ma. Evangelina Palparan, wife of Representative Jovito Palparan.
The famous Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao has a nominee in the person of Energy Undersecretary Zamsamin Ampatuan for the party Anak.
Meanwhile, the Bayan and poll watchdog Kontra Daya groups expressed disappointment over the list of nominees of some party-list groups, noting that the party-list system is being abused by the politically and economically influential in the country.
“From the initial list of nominees, we can certainly say that the party-list system is being routinely abused by politicians, big business interests, high-ranking military officials and Arroyo allies. It is lamentable that it has come to this. Comelec is partly to blame because it has allowed the party-list system to be taken advantage of over the years,” said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr.
Also being questioned are the nomination of Pampanga Representative Mikey Arroyo by the Ang Galing Pinoy Party-list, as well as the nominees of Pacyaw, APO, Abono, Aangat Tayo, Ang Kasannga, ALE, and Kabayan because of their alleged association with the Arroyo administration.
Pacyaw nominees are Tourism Assistant Secretary Janet Lazatin and businessman Reynaldo Pineda, while APO party-list will be represented by former Ilocos congressman Salacnib Baterina.
The deadline for filing nominees was last Friday, March 26, at midnight.
Among the party-list groups that submitted their list of nominees are Cibac, A Teacher, Pacyaw, Aba Ilonggo, Buklod Filipina, APO, Alagad, Butil, Apec, Biyayang Bukid, SB, Bago, Aani, Bandila, Ang PDR, VFP, Agham, AFPSegco, Anakpawis, Cocofed, Aksi, Gabriela, Senior Citizens, Abono, Akma-PTM, Fil-Mus, 1Ganap, Kalinga, AMA, Anad, Ivap, Anakalusugan, Kasapi, Atong Paglaum, Abakada, Buhay, Katribu, ATM, Kabataan, Agap, ABA, AMS, AG. AME, Consla, LPGMA, 1-AK, AT, ABP-Bicolnon, Arcapp, AS, Agbiag, Firm 24-K, Agila, Agri, Bukid, Diwa, Green Force, Amang, Yes We Can, ATS, Awat, Aama, Uni-Mad, PM (Manggagawa), FFW, Amin, Abroad, Lypad, Abang Lingkod INC., Alna, Ang Kasangga, Abakada, Alim, Sabod, Alum, AKI, Alma, Akbayan, Cofa, Ahon, Bida, Aral, and Anak. (FP/Sunnex)