His term is over

I think  Team Rama is doing right in seeking the disqualification of Cebu City Councilor Jun Pe from running as city councilor in the south district  after he served the full three terms as  councilor of the north district.

Pe is challenging the law and  making a mockery of term limits. Pe’s situation is a  first in the country and he’s trying to find ways to circumvent what has been prohibited by law.

Pe is banking on the personal opinion of Comelec chairman Sixto Brilliantes that it’s  all right for Pe to run again in a different district.

But Fr. Joaquin Bernas SJ, in a separate  interview,  said he believes the law is very clear that one cannot run for the same position  if his term expires and that  Pe’s action  is violating  it.

As a lawmaker, Pe should be the first to follow the law and not break it to favor his  personal interest.  I think Pe and the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) should show respect for the law especially on term limits.

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The Comelec’s delisting of some partylist groups to bar them from the 2013 election is welcome news albeit a long overdue one. The  Comelec correctly pointed out that some party list groups have ceased to represent  marginalized sectors of the community.

The party list system has been abused by  several quarters, especially politicians who have practically bastardized the concept.

In the classic case of Mike Arroyo representing Ang Galing, the party list group representing security guards had many asking if  Arroyo was a security guard or why he should represent them.

We copied the party list system from the Parliamentary System of government to give  marginalized or under-represented sectors  a voice in the House of Representatives.

With so much political abuse,  I agree that it’s time the Comelec  correct these mistakes. It is hoped that the Comelec  would  be pro-active in accrediting party list groups  so it no longer has to purge  bogus groups later. The poll body should accredit party list groups that truly represent marginalized sectors.

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The Archdiocese of Cebu is trying its  best to raise funds for  celebrations in Rome and Cebu for the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod on October 21.

News reports said the local Church  needs  about P 30 million more for various activities, including  construction of the templete in the South Road Properties for the Nov. 30 thanksgiving Mass.

So far, I  haven’t  heard Catholic members complaining about  extravagant expenses for the celebration.

I’m happy to know that many parishes are cooperating and supporting the canonization  rites of the Visayan saint in spite of the big amount being raised for the celebrations.

Personally I’m happy with the church preparation Calungsod, who deserves all our efforts and attention.