‘Aquino allies making a mockery of partylist system’ – poll watchdog

Rappler.com

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Kontra Daya names Abantee Retirees nominee former Cavite Rep Plaridel Abaya, Alliance of Mindanao Elders nominee Jorge Banal, and Black and White Movement nominee Leah Navarro

MANILA, Philippines – Poll watchdog Kontra Daya is calling on President Benigno Aquino III to tell his allies to withdraw their bids for the party-list elections next year. It named at least 3 party-list nominees who, according to the group, are not qualified to represent any marginalized group because they are known to be rich.

“For the sake of the integrity and credibility of the partylist system, President Aquino should tell his allies who are not marginalized and are in fact well-entrenched in government, to back off from the partylist system,” said Kontra Daya convenor Fr Joe Dizon in a statement Friday, September 28.

The 1987 Constitution created the party-list system to give the Philippines’ “marginalized” sectors fair representation in Congress.

“It would be helpful to the Commission on Elections if the President sends a message to his allies for them to stop making a mockery of the partylist system. If these groups and personalities back out, that would make Comelec’s job of cleaning the partylist system easier. If the President remains quiet, it means he is tolerating the activities of his allies,” Dizon said.

Kontra Daya named in particular Abantee Retirees nominee former Cavite Rep Plaridel Abaya, Alliance of Mindanao Elders nominee Jorge Banal, and Black and White Movement nominee Leah Navarro. Their petitions for accreditation remain pending before the Comelec.

Abaya is the father of incoming Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio “Jun” Abaya. Banal is the father of Quezon City Rep Bolet Banal, a key member of the Liberal Party.

Kontra Daya also argued that Black and White is “closely identified with the Aquino government.” Navarro herself is a presidential appointee, occupying a seat in the board of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

Sought for comment, Navarro said: “Our petition seeks accreditation for a regional political party NCR under the party list system representing women, youth, and urban poor. All our nominees are members of those sectors.”

“We fulfill the [requirements]. I represent women, Marco Cabrera is our youth nominee. Jose Morales is our urban poor representative,” she added.

Kontra Daya said it has submitted a petition to the Comelec questioning these party-list groups. – Rappler.com

 

 

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