Kontra Daya: 70% of party-list groups hijacked by clans, businesses

Election watchdog Konta Daya said Thursday that seven out of every 10 party-list groups have been "hijacked" by political clans, big businesses and government instrumentalities.

In a statement, Kontra Daya said it flagged at least 120 out of 177 party-list groups for being identified with political clans and big businesses, as well as for having incumbent local officials, connections with the government and military, unknown or unclear advocacies and representations; and pending court cases and criminal charges.

"The country’s party-list system continues to be hijacked by the rich and powerful. Around 70 percent of party-list groups are being used as a backdoor to further entrench their political and economic interests," Kontra Daya said.

"The Commission on Elections (Comelec) should explain why it continues to allow dubious groups to hijack the party-list system, depriving marginalized groups from having a voice at the House of Representatives (HOR)," it added.

Kontra Daya cited that in the 2019 party-list elections, at least 62 out of 134 party-list groups got a red flag from them after analysis on these groups' declared advocacies, track record in public service and background of their party-list nominees.

"There are at least 44 party-list groups controlled by political clans and at least 21 have connections with big business. On the other hand, at least 34 were found to have unknown or unclear advocacies and representations; at least 32 have connections with the government or military; at least 26 have incumbent local officials running as party-list nominees; and at least 19 have pending court cases or criminal charges," Kontra Daya said.

"Under the five categories (i.e., political clans, big businesses, unknown or unclear advocacies and representations, government/military connections, incumbent local officials as party-list nominees, pending cases), there were party-list groups flagged not just once but thrice," it added.

The Party-list law System law states that it "is a mechanism of proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives from national, regional and sectoral parties or organizations or coalitions thereof registered with the Comelec."

The party-list law also provides that a party-list group able to get at least two percent of the total number of votes cast in the party-list race will be entitled to at least one seat in the House of Representatives.

Those that will breach the two-percent threshold will be entitled to additional seats proportionate to the votes they received, but the seats for every winning party-list group shall not exceed three.

Those who failed to reach the two percent threshold, however, may still secure a seat in the House of Representatives since the party-list law also requires that 20 percent of the members of the House should come from the party-list ranks.

In closing, Kontra Daya called on journalists and fact-checkers to investigate whether there are party-list groups funded or supported by the government.

GMA News Online have reached out to the poll body for comment but it has yet to respond as of posting time.—LDF, GMA News