Party list law ‘subverted,’ says Escudero

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero —Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero on Thursday proposed a legislative review of the Party List System Act (Republic Act No. 7941), following a study released by a poll watchdog, Kontra Daya, that more than half of the party list groups seeking seats in the May elections do not represent the marginalized and underrepresented.

“I believe that there is a need to revisit it given that the intent of the framers seems to have been subverted, not only in the party list law but also based on the numerous decisions of the Court,” he said in a statement.

Kontra Daya convenor Danilo Arao earlier said 86, or 55.13 percent of the 156 party list groups eligible to participate in the party list elections, have links with political dynasties, big businesses, police or military; have pending corruption cases; have dubious advocacy; or do not provide enough information to the public about their groups.

Escudero said a review of the law should include the identification of sectors that need representation in Congress.

“This list should be exhaustive and to the exclusion of other sectors that will not be included. After this, we can decide on the process of how we will elect who will represent each sector,” he said.

He said this was already incorporated in the law creating the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“We have done something similar in the BARMM law where we distinguished sectoral from party representatives,” he said.

“Enacted in March 1995, the Party List System Act has long been criticized for ending up as another vehicle for traditional politicians, or “trapos,” to advance personal interests.