Sen. Bato wants groups 'detrimental to government' banned from party-list race

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa has filed a bill seeking to disqualify groups which engage in actions "detrimental to government" and promote violence from participating in the party-list race.

Under Senate Bill 201, Dela Rosa seeks to amend the Party-list System Act and include among the grounds for disqualification:

• those who directly or indirectly participates in acts detrimental to the best interest of the government, to overthrow the government or diminsh its powers, or to be associated by anymeans to rebels or proscribed terrorist persons or groups under the Anti Terrorism Act of 2020 which allows the government to identify terrorists, and
• those groups which seek the participation of children, youth, and members of other disadvantaged sectors in committing violent and unlawful acts.

"Regardless of their political ideology, party list groups should effectively participate in the law-making process in the legislative branch of our government. However, there is a grave concern if the party list group's main agenda is to infiltrate government with revolutionary principles that capitalize on violence and dissent among the people," Dela Rosa said in his explanatory note on the measure.

He then said that the party-list system has allegedly become a distorted instrument of policymaking and a tool for abuse and exploitation "instead of serving its constitutional goal in providing effective and representative governance for the greater welfare of our people."

"There have been party-list groups which have successfully entered the Halls of the House of Representatives which perpetuate radical and oppressive principles in their platform of governance," Dela Rosa said.

Further, the senator said the Constitution's intent in establishing the party-list system is to enhance democratic governance that will nurture the well-being of the nation, a goal that should be preserved and protected.

"Any (deviation) from this goal should be curbed. The party-list system should therefore be purged of all its infirmities," dela Rosa added.

House Deputy Minority Leader and Alliance of Concerned Teachers Representative France Castro quickly opposed Dela Rosa's proposal, saying such measure clearly targets to diminish, if not eradicate, opposition voices.

"Obviously, Senator Dela Rosa is trying to target the Makabayan bloc with his bill as it includes the NTF-ELCAC's script of baseless red-tagging against the progressive party-lists. A legislated red-tagging that will not only affect the Makabayan bloc but all genuine marginalized sectors that should be represented by party-list groups," Castro said in a statement.

NTF-ELCAC is the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

"Ang laman ng bill niya ang mismong script nila na paratang laban sa Makabayan bloc sa kabila ng walang maipresentang konkretong ebidensya na nagpapatunay ng kanilang mga sinasabi. Ang pagpapatuloy na pagtarget ng administrasyong ito laban sa Makabayan bloc ay ang patuloy na pag-atake sa karapatan ng mamamayang Pilipino na maghalal ng mga representanteng kumakatawan sa kanilang sektor na marginalized," Castro added.

She said that allegations of government forces linking progressive groups to communist rebels and violent acts are baseless as evidenced by the recent dismissal of charges against National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant Gamara who is already the 27th activist freed by courts in 2022 alone.

Castro argued that ACT party-list and the rest of Makabayan bloc have always pushed for increasing wages for workers, lowering the cost and accessibility of government services, and scrutinized government corruption.

"Ang adbokasiya ng ACT Teachers Party-List mula noon hanggang ngayon ay mabigyan ng makabuluhang dagdag sweldo ang mga guro at kawani ng edukasyon, siguraduhing sapat ang mga benepisyo at suporta na natatanggap nila para sa kanilang pagtuturo at tiyakin na ang karapatan ng bawat guro, kawani, bata at ng bayan ay nirerespeto ng ating pamahalaan. Dahil sa adbokasiya natin na iyan, pinaparatangan na tayong mga terorista," she said.

She further said the administration should focus its energy and the government's resources on addressing urgent issues of the people including the needs of teachers, education workers, and students for the safe resumption of face-to-face classes.—AOL, GMA News