OFW party-list group appeals 'delisting' by Comelec

Migrante Partylist, an overseas Filipino workers’ group, urged the Commission on Elections on Thursday to immediately resolve their petition questioning the poll body’s decision to bar them from participating in next year’s elections. Lawyer Julius Garcia Matibag, who represents the group, said the Comelec needs to act on their appeal before the Nov. 30 deadline set by the poll body for groups to file their application to participate in the May 2010 elections. Last week, the Comelec delisted Migrante and 24 other party-list groups for failing to participate in the last two elections and/or failing to obtain at least two percent votes in two consecutive elections. Migrante argued that it is not covered by the ground’s for disqualification cited by the Comelec because the group participated only in the 2004 elections but not in the 2007 elections. [See: Comelec erred in delisting Migrante as a partylist group] The disqualified groups were given until Oct. 26 to appeal the ruling. “But who knows how long it would take for them to reach a decision?" Matibag told GMANews.TV on Thursday Matibag is concerned that if the Comelec decides too late on their petition, Migrante Partylist will have a difficult time running in 2010. “We are hoping they would resolve this in a week, otherwise, it would keep us from seeking other remedies," he added. Should the Comelec rule against them, Matibag said they would seek a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court and allow them to file their manifestation of interest to participate in 2010. Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairperson of Migrante Partylist, said the decision to delist them was purely politically motivated. Dubious groups According to her, had they not exposed the dubious party-list groups that won seats in Congress in 2007, they would have an easier time applying for the elections next year. Bragas-Regalado said Migrante Patylist played a key role in exposing the pseudo-partylist groups like Abante, Kalahi, Kasangga, Bantay and five other groups which she said were all affiliated with the Arroyo administration. “May motivation politically kung bakit kami dinelist (There is a political motive why we were delisted)," she told GMANews.TV. Bragas-Regalado cited Bantay partylist, represented by controversial retired military general Jovito Palparan Jr., a strong ally of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Palparan has gained notoriety among militant groups - who call him “butcher" - for his alleged role in extrajudicial killings, abduction, and torture of government critics. Migrante partylist then questioned whether Palparan and Maria Lourdes Arroyo’s partylists truly represented a minority in Philippine society. Matibag dared the Comelec to delist “illegitimate" partylists and not disqualify those who truly represent minorities based on a technicality. Protest actions Meanwhile, Bragas-Regalado warned that more protest rallies would erupt condemning the delisting of Migrante. On Wednesday, Migrante’s chapter in Hong Kong already protested in front of the office of the Consul General to decry the decision. “This will be followed by similar movements in the Middle East starting today until the 26th," she added. Migrante has been known to trumpet calls for the aid of stranded, distressed and abused Filipino workers. But it has also been accused of exaggerating figures and reports on various OFW cases. Since the party-list system began in the 1998, no OFW group has succeeded yet in winning a seat in the House of Representatives. - GMANews.TV