http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100322-260108/Disclose-nominees-party-list-groups-told
MANILA, Philippines—Nominees of party-list organizations, no matter how controversial they may be, should not hide behind their group’s name.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will promptly release the names of the nominees of all 187 party-list groups, according to its legal department director, Ferdinand Rafanan.
Each party-list group is required to submit to the Comelec the names of at least five nominees by March 26.
Rafanan said he would disclose the list of all nominees of the party-list groups the day after the deadline.
The immediate release of the names is expected to give those opposed to the nominees enough time to file disqualification cases against them.
But it’s not only the poll body which should be publicizing the names of the nominees, according to Rafanan.
The groups themselves are required to disclose their choices for representatives in Congress on their own campaign posters, banners and other paraphernalia.
Comelec resolution
“Once they’ve submitted the names, they should include these in their paraphernalia,” Rafanan reminded the party-list groups.
Comelec Resolution No. 8695, issued in November 2009, states: “The party-list parties, organizations or coalitions shall include the names of their nominees in all of their campaign materials.”
Rafanan said the law department was just required to accept the names of nominees submitted. But for the poll body to disqualify or reject a nominee, there has to be a complaint filed against him or her.
Complaint
The complaint can come even from a member of the party-list group, if he or she believes that the nominees do not truly represent the group or the sector, Rafanan said.
While the complaint is pending, the nominee may be prevented from taking his seat in the House of Representatives in case his party wins enough votes, he added.
Earlier, Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said there had to be a challenge to the party-list nominees for them to be rejected.
Sarmiento noted that with the sheer number of nominees, the Comelec was hard-put to scrutinize each of them.
Info from public
Sarmiento also said that for the Comelec to act on its own and reject a nominee, it would still need information. With the number of duties piling up, it may not be able to gather all the data that it would need.
The list of nominees is not a prerequisite for a party-list organization’s accreditation by the Comelec. The names of nominees are only required to be disclosed after the group’s accreditation.
Under Comelec rules, the party-list nominees must be a natural-born Filipino, a registered voter, and a bona fide member of the party for at least 90 days before the elections.
The nominee should also belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors, the sectoral party or the political party or coalition he seeks to represent; and a resident of the Philippines for not less than one year immediately preceding Election Day.
Mikey Arroyo
Concerns about the abuse of the party-list system have been raised amid reports that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s son, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, and Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes are being considered the No. 1 nominee of AGP (Ang Galing Party) and 1-Utak, respectively.
Some view the possible participation of Congressman Arroyo and Secretary Reyes in the party-list elections as a mockery of the system since they believe the two are not proper representatives of the voiceless.
Becoming a nominee is also considered an attempt to find an easy way to enter Congress.
MANILA, Philippines—Nominees of party-list organizations, no matter how controversial they may be, should not hide behind their group’s name.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will promptly release the names of the nominees of all 187 party-list groups, according to its legal department director, Ferdinand Rafanan.
Each party-list group is required to submit to the Comelec the names of at least five nominees by March 26.
Rafanan said he would disclose the list of all nominees of the party-list groups the day after the deadline.
The immediate release of the names is expected to give those opposed to the nominees enough time to file disqualification cases against them.
But it’s not only the poll body which should be publicizing the names of the nominees, according to Rafanan.
The groups themselves are required to disclose their choices for representatives in Congress on their own campaign posters, banners and other paraphernalia.
Comelec resolution
“Once they’ve submitted the names, they should include these in their paraphernalia,” Rafanan reminded the party-list groups.
Comelec Resolution No. 8695, issued in November 2009, states: “The party-list parties, organizations or coalitions shall include the names of their nominees in all of their campaign materials.”
Rafanan said the law department was just required to accept the names of nominees submitted. But for the poll body to disqualify or reject a nominee, there has to be a complaint filed against him or her.
Complaint
The complaint can come even from a member of the party-list group, if he or she believes that the nominees do not truly represent the group or the sector, Rafanan said.
While the complaint is pending, the nominee may be prevented from taking his seat in the House of Representatives in case his party wins enough votes, he added.
Earlier, Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said there had to be a challenge to the party-list nominees for them to be rejected.
Sarmiento noted that with the sheer number of nominees, the Comelec was hard-put to scrutinize each of them.
Info from public
Sarmiento also said that for the Comelec to act on its own and reject a nominee, it would still need information. With the number of duties piling up, it may not be able to gather all the data that it would need.
The list of nominees is not a prerequisite for a party-list organization’s accreditation by the Comelec. The names of nominees are only required to be disclosed after the group’s accreditation.
Under Comelec rules, the party-list nominees must be a natural-born Filipino, a registered voter, and a bona fide member of the party for at least 90 days before the elections.
The nominee should also belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors, the sectoral party or the political party or coalition he seeks to represent; and a resident of the Philippines for not less than one year immediately preceding Election Day.
Mikey Arroyo
Concerns about the abuse of the party-list system have been raised amid reports that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s son, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, and Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes are being considered the No. 1 nominee of AGP (Ang Galing Party) and 1-Utak, respectively.
Some view the possible participation of Congressman Arroyo and Secretary Reyes in the party-list elections as a mockery of the system since they believe the two are not proper representatives of the voiceless.
Becoming a nominee is also considered an attempt to find an easy way to enter Congress.
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