MEMBERS of the Socialista group staged a protest in front of the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila, denouncing the commission for its failure to uphold the spirit of the party-list system
MEMBERS of the Socialista group staged a protest in front of the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila, denouncing the commission for its failure to uphold the spirit of the party-list system, which is intended to represent marginalized and underrepresented sectors in Congress.
The group argues that the Comelec’s lax standards and requirements have allowed traditional politicians, including those who have completed terms as District Representatives or local government officials, to easily participate in the party-list system.
This, they claim, has led to a situation where the majority of the 156 party-lists approved to participate are aligned with political dynasties and wealthy businessmen, rather than genuine grassroots organizations.
Socialista spokesperson Eding Villasin highlighted the discrepancy between the intent of the Party List System Act (R.A. 7941), which aims to provide representation for sectors like workers, urban poor, fishermen, farmers, women, youth, indigenous peoples, OFWs, PWDs, senior citizens, veterans, and professionals, and the reality of the current system, which they believe has been manipulated by the Comelec.
As an example, the group cited the Agimat Party-list, founded by Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., with his son, Congressman Bryan Revilla, as the first nominee. Bryan’s mother, Congresswoman Lani Mercado, represents the 2nd District of Cavite.
The Socialista protest underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the effectiveness of the party-list system in the Philippines.
The group’s concerns echo those of academics like Encarnacion Tadem and Eduardo C. Tadem, both University of the Philippines professors, who have researched the nature, persistence, and negative impact of political dynasties in the country.
They identify three key factors contributing to this problem: the foundations upon which political dynasties are built, the lack of effective implementation of constitutional provisions, and the weakness of forces challenging these dynasties.
The Socialista protest serves as a call for the Comelec to address the concerns raised and ensure that the party-list system truly serves its intended purpose of representing the marginalized and underrepresented sectors in Philippine society.
