INQUIRER.net Eleksyon 2007

Akbayan to Comelec: Disqualify ‘admin front’ party-lists

INQUIRER.net

Erwin Oliva

MANILA, Philippines -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) should disqualify at least 11 party-list groups alleged to be “fronts” of the administration, a left-leaning lawmaker said Wednesday.

“If they find enough reason to disqualify them [party-lists], Comelec should do so,” House Deputy Minority Floor Leader Loretta Ann Rosales said following a meeting with election commissioner Resurreccion Borra.

Rosales, who represents the party-list Akbayan, wrote a letter to Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. naming the 11 “administration front” party-lists as:

- Babae Ka! and Ang Kasangga, both allegedly linked with Malacañang’s Office of External Affairs;

- Akbay Pinoy which is a member of Sigaw ng Bayan, the group that pushed the failed administration-backed bid for a people’s initiative to amend the Constitution;

- Aksyon Sambayanan, an alleged project of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales;

- Agbiag! led by Palace Secretary for External Affairs Marcelo Fariñas II acting as secretary general.

- Ahon Pinoy, whose number one nominee is Dante “Klink” Ang, son of Dante Ang, Arroyo publicist and chairman of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.

- Biyaheng Pinoy, founded and chaired by Mandaluyong City Vice Mayor Jesus Cruz, while Arsenio Abalos, elder brother of the Comelec chairman sits as director and national council member.

- Aangat Tayo, headed by the Philippine International Trading Corp. executive vice president Teddie Elson Rivera, who now sits as president;

- Aangat ang Kabuhayan (Anak) whose number one nominee, Eduardo Octaviano, is reportedly a superintendent of the Philippine National Police National Capital Region Police Office.

- Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) is reportedly choosing retired major general Jovito Palparan to be one of its nominees.

- KAKUSA is reportedly led by convicted child rapist Romeo Jalosjos as its chairman emeritus.

“Borra said that Comelec will act on this and will name a Commissioner-in-charge to address our concern,” Rosales said, adding that Borra had suggested commissioner Rene Sarmiento to look into the issue.

Rosales said these party-list groups with “dubious backgrounds” violate Republic Act 7941, also known as the Party-List Act.

An Akbayan statement also cited the June 26, 2001 Supreme Court decision in the case Ang Bagong Bayani OFW vs Comelec, et al, which says “an organization must not be an adjunct of, or a project organized, or an entity funded or assisted by, the government.”

The decision, the statement said, also “bars the participation of government officials in partisan activity.”

Rosales said allowing these party-list groups to seek office would benefit the administration because it would have more warm bodies in Congress.

She noted that the House of Representatives in the 13th Congress was largely under the dictate of the administration.

“If they get a nice majority [in Congress] they can thwart any efforts by the opposition that seeks to find a resolution to unresolved issues in the 13th Congress,” she said, adding these include the impeachment of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and allegations she cheated her way to victory in the 2004 electiosn.

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