Party-list system in the Philippines: Is it still credible?

Incumbent party-list nominees now return to hot seat as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) starts another round of scrutiny on their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) in preparation for the upcoming 2013 National Election. However, more than seeking for hints of corruption on unexplained wealth in this action is the probe for proper representation of the sector each nominee represents – the quest to embody the real marginalized and underrepresented sectors.

As upheld by the Supreme Court (SC), under Republic Act No. 7941 or the Party-List System Act, all nominees should belong to the sector they wish to represent and not just be a mere member of the party-list organization. The weak enforcement of this criterion leads to abuse in political opportunities by political clans, past elected officials who have reached maximum terms and public figures who see party-lists as stepping stone to a much higher position in the future. It is inferred that the delay in the criterion’s implementation is also partially pointed to the SC’s dissenting opinion from that of Comelec’s decisions on past cases.

It is an open secret that many party-list representatives do not qualify to be called marginalized to begin with. Political dynasties and past public officials now extend to taking part on urban poor representations to stay latched onto power. Nonetheless, qualified groups with questionable nominees to join next year’s race are still subject to investigation, and that is what the commission avows to do before the announcement of the official list of party-list groups and their nominees.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes expects this intensified screening process to cut the currently listed 172 groups with five nominees each to as credibly low as possible. He added that a set of guidelines to be used by the two divisions of the agency assigned with the investigation will be laid for consistent standards.

The SALN scrutiny has been a much talked about political issue this year, as the Philippine history had its first impeached Supreme Court chief justice arising from non-conformance to SALN law. This declaration will be Comelec’s basis for its decision come 2013 election but it is certainly was not needed to question some party-list nominees in the past. These issues left the credibility of some groups hanging, with some still battling case in the court.

AGP Representative Mikey Arroyo

Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo faced disqualification cases when he ran for congress under the Ang Galing Pinoy (AGP) party-list group and won, all on the basis of his qualification to represent tricycle drivers and security guards on Congress. Despite oppositions, Comelec declared him in 2010 as eligible to the position. He held the congressional seat in Pampanga’s second district prior to his current position. The former is now being held by his mother, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who just got out from hospital arrest on bail of P1,000,000 (one million pesos).

El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde

El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde was also placed under the same blitz when Buhay party-list made him its fifth nominee, which others saw as violation to the Party-List System Act which prohibits religious groups from participating in the race. His son, Rene, first handled the seat, which opposition saw as an act of “family incorporation.”

Every election season, the same issue loops in a cycle that is seen unresolved until now. How do advocacy and representation differ from each other?

The Supreme Court asserted its opinion in favor of a stricter representation of each party-list group which entails direct membership to the represented marginalized group and not just mere association in the organization. All nominees should belong to the same sector.

Comelec differed in principle, though. It remained on its stand that a nominee could hold the position “as long as you are a member of the party, not necessarily a member of the marginalized sector."

Screening party-list groups and nominees eyeing seats in the lower house will all be done in vain unless these two independent bodies acquiesce with the same principle in qualifying candidates.

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James Henry Abrina is an editor, writer, SEO specialist and currently a Corporate Communication Professional, Market Desk Strategist, Business Development Officer and Unit Head for Business Profiles Incorporated.

He currently specializes in security management and business intelligence. Together with the company, he advocates Business Continuity Planning to change how the Philippine business sector sees the definition of crisis response and management.

For more useful information, read his articles at Triond and Masscom Tutor. Or his EzineArticles page.