Comelec delisting Migrante from party-list groups

[explorer]

so what else is new?

from: www.inquirer.net

[SIZE="3"]Comelec urged to reconsider delisting of Migrante from party-list groups[/SIZE]

Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
October 23, 2009

MANILA, Philippines--The left-wing coalition Makabayan on Friday urged the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to reconsider its decision delisting Migrante Sectoral Party from party list organizations participating in the May 2010 elections, saying this would deprive millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) of representation in Congress.

“It is clear from its record that Migrante is a legitimate party-list organization, with the largest and broadest membership among overseas Filipinos and their families in the Philippines. It cannot be denied that to delist Migrante is to disenfranchise their constituency,” said Bayan Muna party list Representative Satur Ocampo, who is also the chairman of Makabayan, a coalition of party list organizations.

Ocampo lamented that the only party list group that stands for the concerns of the OFWs was no longer eligible to join the election.

“Thousands of overseas Filipinos are in danger of being disenfranchised by this COMELEC ruling. They who contribute so much from the economy have for so long been marginalized by the electoral system. Now, once again, they are being denied their right to representation,” he said.

In an en banc resolution dated October 13, the COMELEC barred Migrante and 25 other party list organizations from participating in the 2010 elections. Migrante, according to the poll body, participated and failed to gain seats in the two straight elections prior to the upcoming polls.

But Ocampo said that Migrante participated only in 2004 and signified their intent not to run in 2007, while maintaining the option to run in the next election.

Ocampo also questioned the inconsistencies in the COMELEC’s decision to delist. For example, he said groups like BISA, Pinoy Overseas Party and Banat were allowed to run in 2004 even as they failed to garner the required two-percent of total party-list votes to garner seats in 1998. These groups also failed to run during the 2001 elections.

According to him, groups with “dubious representation” like the Kasangga party list of Ma. Lourdes Arroyo, the sister of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, and retired general Jovito Palparan’s Bantay party list were allowed to participate in 2007 even if these representatives do not belong to the marginalized sector, which “defames the true spirit of the Party-List System Act.”

“All these point to a political motive in the delisting of Migrante. After all, Migrante, along with the other progressive party-list organizations, have been the most vocal in criticizing government misdeeds and even exposing electoral fraud during the past elections,” Ocampo said.

[tidus1203]

Yeah its not right pero a part of me is happy. I hate these left-wing groups. Sorry medyo right-wing kasi ako eh. Conservative and pro-business, still the best path to prosperity IMO.

[CoDer]

Yehey! sa wakas!!! Bawasan nyo pa comelec.

[niky]

The stupid thing about the Party-list system is that they're supposed to represent under-represented special interest groups.

In other words... those without the voting clout to get their voices heard.

Errh... that means, then... if you want the most under-represented to be represented... shouldn't you elect the party-lists with the least votes? :hysterical:

[vito corleone]

The stupid thing about the Party-list system is that they're supposed to represent under-represented special interest groups.

In other words... those without the voting clout to get their voices heard.

Errh... that means, then... if you want the most under-represented to be represented... shouldn't you elect the party-lists with the least votes? :hysterical:

makes sense

[chua_riwap]

Yung Partido Sabungero, nagrireklamo rin.......

Baklas din sila.

[explorer]

Yeah its not right pero a part of me is happy. I hate these left-wing groups. Sorry medyo right-wing kasi ako eh. Conservative and pro-business, still the best path to prosperity IMO.

i think you missed the whole point of democracy. which one do you like....these leftest groups going under and struggle with firearms or voice their thoughts through a peaceful channel like congress? all mature countries/government welcome all communist parties to join the democratic election rather than letting them fight underground and kill both civilians and people in military.

[Lucius]

Ahhhhhh just kill all the leftists

[tidus1203]

Ahhhhhh just kill all the leftists

Agree! They are just a hindrance to prosperity. All I have to say to leftists is maging capitalaists na din sila. Iwan na nila yang failure of ideology that they have kaya di sila umasenso...

[wowiesy]

Agree! They are just a hindrance to prosperity. All I have to say to leftists is maging capitalaists na din sila. Iwan na nila yang failure of ideology that they have kaya di sila umasenso...

kapitalista din naman sila eh... they have their own capitalist ways... like fund raising activities at gunpoint... hehe... yan nga yung nagbibigay sa kanila ng advantage...

but for me, they just sit on a corner and do their thing in that corner... hindi nila sinusubukan na lumipat ng corner and see it from that perspective... mas kuntento na sila na isisi ang lahat sa gobyerno...

[Altis6453]

i think you missed the whole point of democracy. which one do you like....these leftest groups going under and struggle with firearms or voice their thoughts through a peaceful channel like congress? all mature countries/government welcome all communist parties to join the democratic election rather than letting them fight underground and kill both civilians and people in military.

This is just a list of my problems with left-leaning party list groups:

1. They haven't condemned or disassociated themselves completely with the CPP-NPA and its activities of murder, extortion and destruction of property;

2. While making a lot of noise when activists get killed or abducted, they are strangely silent when soldiers get massacred or even mutilated;

3.They condemn corruption in government but don't condemn "revolutionary taxes";

4. They protest and stage loud rallies with slogans like RESIGN! IBAGSAK! US IMPERYALISTA! but consistently fail to provide any viable and acceptable solutions to problems like unemployment, lack of productivity, lack of competitiveness, etc.;

5. They're totally ignorant or oblivious to simple economics.

Migrante? Kahit isama mo pa GABRIELA, BAYAN, or by whatever name they tag themselves, I don't mind at all if they get delisted. I'd rather they pick up a rifle so that they make themselves legit targets of our military so that once and for all we'd be rid of their ilk.

[baludoy]

tama lang iyan! deny them from getting "legit" funds via our taxes to finance their terrorism and extortion campaigns.

wala naman ginawa iyong mga leftists nung binaha ang mga kababayan natin nung bagyong ondoy. pumila pa nga ang madami sa kanila para kumuha ng relief goods from NGOs & gov't agencies assisted by the military

[wowiesy]

This is just a list of my problems with left-leaning party list groups:

1. They haven't condemned or disassociated themselves completely with the CPP-NPA and its activities of murder, extortion and destruction of property;

2. While making a lot of noise when activists get killed or abducted, they are strangely silent when soldiers get massacred or even mutilated;

3.They condemn corruption in government but don't condemn "revolutionary taxes";

4. They protest and stage loud rallies with slogans like RESIGN! IBAGSAK! US IMPERYALISTA! but consistently fail to provide any viable and acceptable solutions to problems like unemployment, lack of productivity, lack of competitiveness, etc.;

5. They're totally ignorant or oblivious to simple economics.

di ko mapigilan ang sarili ko... pero...

I AGREE ON ALL COUNTS!!

[niky]

Actually... the legitimization of the left is the best thing that has happened to the country's problem with communism.

By ensuring that they're a valid part of the government, you're giving them less reason to support breakaway groups and rebels.

(Of course, it helps cement the power base of the administration when they have a need and a reason for a strong army... which is why they continue with the war against the NPA and Abu Sayyaf instead of finishing the fight with finality... also, the fight with large criminal groups inside the city helps legitimize the need for military roadblocks and checkpoints, meant to intimidate and scare the populace into thinking that they need the current administration more than they do...)

Armed response will only provoke more armed revolt... but inviting dialogue and giving them a stake in the peace and prosperity of the country... linking political stability to their own group's prosperity and survival... further ensures that they will not want to upset the status quo.

Many of the current establishment were "radicals" in the 70's... but when they grew up and grew older, they became more world-wise, and traded jeans and shirts for suits and ties. This is the same thing... but only done on a party level.

Of course... that doesn't change my mind about the party-list system... it's fundamentally flawed, and the fact that the same organizations can back multiple party-lists makes a sham of the whole thing.