Comelec says hands tied in reforming party-list groups

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said its hands were tied in reforming partylist groups after an election watchdog bared that seven out of every 10 party-list groups have been "hijacked" by political clans, big businesses and government instrumentalities.

According to Maki Pulido’s “24 Oras” report on Friday, Comelec acting chairperson Socorro Inting said the poll body only enforces elections laws and legal jurisprudence as cited by the high court.

“I would like to emphasize that Comelec merely enforces election laws and legal jurisprudence cited by the Supreme Court,” Inting said.

Election watchdog 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.

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.

“Kasi yung mga partylist group are entitled rin naman sa pork barrel allocation at ito ang isang nagiging means for corruption. Pwede mong gamitin ‘yang pagiging district representative o partylist representative para makakuha ng ganansya. Nagiging oportunidad para ikaw ay lalo pang magpayaman. Political leverage rin ito para sa mga taong may pending na kaso,” Professor Danilo Arao, convenor of Kontra Daya, said.

(The partylist groups are also entitled to pork barrel allocation and this is one of the means for corruption. One can use his being district representative or partylist representative for personal gains. It becomes an opportunity for one to get even richer. It is also political leverage for people with pending cases.)

“Ang Comelec mayroong quasi-judicial at quasi-legislative function yan eh. Pwede yan magdagdag ng additional layers of requirements para masigurado natin yung mga marginalized mapapakinabangan itong partylist system na ito,” he added.

(The Comelec has quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative functions. They can add additional layers of requirements to ensure that the marginalized can benefit from this partylist system.)

Meanwhile, the election watchdog also called on journalists and fact-checkers to investigate whether there are party-list groups funded or supported by the government.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News