Cha-cha not needed to address issue of party-lists allegedly supporting Reds —Garbin

There is no need to amend the party-list system under the 1987 Constitution to address the claim that some party-list organizations are supporting communist rebels, as this issue can be simply taken up with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chair Alfredo Garbin Jr. made the remark on Monday after President Rodrigo Duterte supposedly wanted an amendment to the party-list system in the 1987 Constitution to help address the problem with communist rebellion.

In a virtual interview with reporters, Garbin believes that the President's concern with party-list organizations is that some are allegedly being used by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People's Army (NPA) to espouse violence to bring down his administration.

This was consistent with the statement of Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who said that the President believes that some members of the House, particularly the Makabayan Bloc, are sympathizers or connected with the CPP-NPA.

The Makabayan Bloc, however, has consistently denied being part of, or serving as front organizations for, the CPP-NPA.

"If that is the sole issue, then the solution lies with the Comelec," Garbin said.

According to him, the Party-list System Act provides the grounds through which a party-list can be disqualified and their registration be canceled, and these include advocating violence or unlawful means to seek its goal — in this case, to topple the government — if they are connected with armed groups.

"You need not to amend the Constitution because we have an existing law and we have remedies provided therein," Garbin said.

"You know the certificate of registration is a continuing requirement for a party-list representative to sit in Congress. The moment it is canceled then they cease automatically to be a party-list representative. I think that is the proper remedy," he added.

Garbin said that he does not feel personally attacked with the supposed statement from the President, considering that he himself represents the Ako Bicol party-list in Congress.

"Siguro may mga valid concern ang ating Presidente. And I’m here to also provide the suggestion that is both available remedies in law and in the Party-list System Act," he said. 

"Although I admit that there are needs to reform the party-list system, but not to abolish it," he added.

Garbin likewise assured his fellow party-list representatives that he will not allow any amendment in the 1987 Constitution that would essentially seek to abolish the party-list system.

He maintained that scheduled hearings of his panel to tackle constitutional amendments would focus solely on the "restrictive" economic provisions.

"Hindi ako magsusuporta sa isang bagay na of course, ilalagay sa alanganin 'yung party-list system where we truly believe and that’s why we participated in this representation," he said.

"So klarado 'yung direksyon ng ating Speaker, talagang restrictive economic provisions lamang. Walang pulitika dito, walang term extension, walang abolition of term limits," he added.

The House panel deliberations on amendments to economic provisions in the Constitution are set to begin on Wednesday. —KG, GMA News