Comelec exec backs amendment of Party-list System Act

Comelec Commisioner Rowena Guanzon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon is all for the amendment of Republic Act No. 7941 or the Party-list System Act to prevent political families from taking over positions in Congress that should rightfully belong to genuinely underrepresented and marginalized sectors of the country.

Guanzon lamented how mainstream politicians manage to circumvent and take advantage of the party-list law in order to elect members of their families to Congress.

“Mahirap po ang ginagawa po ng political families kasi may nakaupo na sa kanila sa Kongreso, magpapatakbo sila ng party-list representative na pareho na rin nilang apelyido,” Guanzon said.

“So parang dapat ‘yung slot na ‘yan dapat ‘yan sa marginalized, eh napunta na tuloy sa mga political families din,” she added.

Guanzon said amendment of the Party-list System Act is imperative since there is no anti-dynasty law to curtail such practice of political families.

“Ang panukala ko, i-amend na lang ‘yung party-list law na kapag may nakaupo sa Kongreso na kamag-anak mo within the fourth degree hanggang sa first cousin, hindi ka pwedeng maging nominee ng party-list,” Guanzon said.

“‘Yun na lang i-amend na lang nila ‘yung batas kasi wala namang anti-dynasty law. I-amend ‘yung party-list law. ‘Yun ang panukala ko,” she added.

The Comelec official stressed party-lists are supposed to represent the marginalized sectors in Congress, but that is not what has been happening.

“Eh ngayon ang nangyayari mayayaman naman ang mga nakaupo d’yan, hindi naman totoo silang sector,” she said.

Guanzon likewise emphasized the importance of voters’ education since election of these politicians to public office is in their hands.

“Voters’ education ang kailangan, na mamili po kayo ng party-list nyo na totoong magre-represent ng sector na d’yan kayo nakahanay or a party-list that represents their interests or concerns,” she said.  /kga