Kontra Daya wants registration of Vendors Party-list cancelled

Kontra Daya through its convenor Danilo Arao asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, to cancel the registration of Vendors Party-list for alleged misrepresentation of its first three nominees. (File photo from his Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines — Poll watchdog Kontra Daya asked on Tuesday the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to cancel the registration of Vendors Party-list for alleged misrepresentation of its first three nominees.

“This is a Verified Complaint to Cancel the Registration of Vendors Samagan ng mga Maninindang Pilipino (VENDORS) as Regional Sectoral Organization under the Party-List System in accordance with Section 6 of Republic Act (R.A) No. 7941, in relation to the rules and regulations prescribed under Comelec Resolution No. 9366,” Kontra Daya’s complaint read.

The complaint also noted that the party-list group violated the social justice provision under Article XIII, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution.

Kontra Daya convenor Danilo Arao said that based on their study, the first three nominees own businesses and do not belong to the sector they represent.

READ: Kontra Daya: Over half of party lists don’t represent poor

Arao also shared that Vendors Party-list is among the 86 party-list groups they flagged in a study that do not represent the poor. Arao mentioned the study findings include: a party-list group is part of a political dynasty; identified with big businesses; nominees have pending corruption cases; nominees have connections with military and police; the party-list have dubious advocacies; and the party-list has limited information on its background and track record.

Further, Arao said that if the party-list group secures a seat in the House of Representatives, it will be a big loss for genuine representation.

“It’s a big mockery of the law, particularly sa Party-list System Act of 1995 to have partylist groups like this at dapat lang na madisqualify sila (and they should be disqualified),” Arao told reporters in an interview.

Kontra Daya, in its complaint, shared a radio interview with first nominee Malou Lipana where she shared that she is the president of Olympus Mining and Builders Group Philippines Corporation that secured a contract with the Department of Public Works and Highways.

She also said that the second nominee, Florencio Pesigan owns an advertising agency aside from Pesiga’s declaration that he is a PR Specialist in his Certificate of Acceptance of Nomination.

Pesigan, a former city councilor, was previously suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for conduct unbecoming of a public officer.

Lastly, Lipana mentioned that the third nominee, Sheryl Sendil owns hardware and construction supplies.

READ: Diwata files intention to run for party-list representing vendors

It can be recalled that internet personality and Diwata Pares Overload owner Deo Balbuena, also known as Diwata, serves as the party-list’s fourth nominee. However, the party-list system only allows party-list groups to win up to three seats.

Paglaum vs. Comelec

While Arao acknowledged the Supreme Court decision on Paglaum vs. Comelec, he said that it might be the right time for that high court decision to be reviewed.

The decision states that party-list groups do not have to be members of a certain sector to represent them, as long as they have proven their advocacy.

“Pero hindi porket legal ay tama na yung ginagawa nila. Pwede nating sabihin na it’s a test case to see how the Comelec will act and whether or not iaakyat pa o iaapela sa iba’t ibang korte,” Arao said.

(Just because it is legal does not mean that they’re doing the right thing. We can say that it’s a test case to see how Comelec will act and whether or not they will elevate or appeal it to other courts.)

Meanwhile, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia on Tuesday said that the poll body welcomes the filing of a complaint against Vendors Party-list.

“Yun yung kagandahan na may nagpafile na petition sa amin. Kahit papaano, dahil sa petition na yan, ay magkakaroon ng tamang pagtingin ang komisyon at tamang pagtimbang sa mga party-list,” Garcia said in a separate interview.

(That’s a good thing about filing petitions. Because of that petition, the commission will have a good judgment on the party-lists.)

After the filing, Garcia said that the nominees will be required to face a hearing and submit additional requirements to prove the legitimacy of their advocacies.