Pagdiskwalipika ng Comelec sa Black and White Movement, iginagalang ni Lacierda

Nirerespeto ni Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda ang desisyon ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) na tanggalin ang grupong Black and White Movement sa listahan ng party-list groups. “My personal opinion should not matter for this time. We will leave it with the Comelec," pahayag ni Lacierda sa press briefing sa Malacañang nitong Huwebes. “I have always maintained [that] Comelec is a constitutional commission, separate and independent from the executive branch. They based their decision on the appreciation of their own rules," dagdag niya. Si Lacierda ay dating miyembro ng BWM na kinabibilangan ng mga dating kalihim na bumitiw ng suporta sa administrasyon ni dating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Nitong Miyerkules, inihayag ni Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., na nabigo ang BWM na ipakita, "through its articles of incorporation, by-laws, history and track record that it represents and seeks to uplift the marginalized sectors of women, youth and urban poor." Ayon kay Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, pinuno ng First Division ng Comelec, “the group is more of an advocacy group than a party-list." Mayroong limang araw ang Black and White Movement upang iapela sa naging resolusyon ng Comelec. Ayon kay Lacierda, sa kabila ng desisyon ng Comelec ay patuloy siyang naniniwala sa prinsipyo ng Black and White movement. “I do believe, however, since I’m a former member of the Black and White, I know the principles that it stands for. But, as to its disqualification, that’s another matter," anang opisyal. Inihayag din ni Lacierda na lubusang sinusuportahan ng Malacañang ang Kongreso sa paghahanap ng tunay na kahulugan ng tinatawag na “marginalized sector" na binabanggit sa party-list law. “It’s within their jurisdiction to come up with amendments to the law itself. And, for that reason, they may take up matters which would require amending the law," ayon kay Lacierda. Gayunpaman, ipinauubaya na umano ng Palasyo sa mga mambabatas ang naturang bagay sa pag-amyenda gaya ng naging pahayag ni Sen. Koko Pimentel tungkol sa pagtukoy ng kahulugan ng marginalized sector. - Mandy Fernandez/FRJ, GMA News