Bayan Muna finds itself at war with other partylists

Photo from https://www.anwaray.com

MANILA, Philippines — War is brewing among partylist groups at the House of Representatives and some have even shuttered their offices temporarily in protest.

An Waray Partylist Representative Florencio Noel said that some 17 partylist groups at the House of Representatives made the move due to accusations that they were unfit to represent marginalized sectors.

“I told them yesterday (Monday) to close their offices,” said Noel, adding that many other groups followed suit. He said that they did it in protest of Bayan Muna’s alleged plan to disqualify other groups.

“We put a sign telling people to go Bayan Muna,” he said, pertaining to persons looking to solicit funds from partylist groups. For an entire week, people looking for assistance will find notes posted on the doors of other partylist groups telling them to ask Bayan Muna for help instead.

Noel explained that it was unfair that Bayan Muna deemed itself as the only group which truly represents and helps the marginalized.

He said partylist groups should be helping each other instead of fighting each other.

Noel said he has dropped his initial plans of helping Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casino in campaigning to win a seat at the Senate in next year’s polls.