Montemayor, Moreno bat for party-list system reforms; Mangondato wants it abolished

Presidential candidates Jose Montemayor and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno agreed on the need for reforms in the party-list system. 

Faisal Mangondato said he'd push for a federal system where the party-list system would have no place.

Montemayor said many party-list representatives belonged to the moneyed class but removing the system would mean less representation for the poor.

"Lalong ma-aggravate ang ating sitwasyon kung mawawalan ng representation yung mga mahihirap. Tandaan po natin ang gumulo ng buong sitwasyon ang Supreme Court," Montemayor said on the Comelec's Second Presidential Debate on Sunday.

He said the laws on the party-list system were changed following Supreme Court jurisprudence over the years,

"Wala naman sa original party-list law ang tinatawag na marginalized, wala po yan, it is only underrepresented sectors," Montemayor said.

"Alam niyo po binago nang binago. Gumulo nang gumulo until yung partylist system pumasok na sa mga mamamayan," he added.

"So huwag po nating tanggalin itong party-list system ngunyi ibalik natin doon sa original definition and the intent of the framers of the Constitution. Ano yan? underrepresented, not necessarily marginalized," Montemayor said.

Safeguards, says Moreno

Moreno said the party-list system should continue with safeguards in place.

“Whether through [the] empowerment of Comelec on distinguishing membership of the party-list or their representation or nominees," Moreno said.

"Are they really representing the marginalized? Are they really representing the intent of the law when it was crafted?” he added.

Moreno also reiterated his proposal for a two-party system.

“Isama ko na siya sa people initiative na proposal ko na political system, change the political system natin. Again, it is right, it is high time, napapanahon na, hinog na, natayo ay bumalik sa two-party system,” Moreno said.

Moreno also stressed that a vice president should win alongside a presidential candidate to avoid power struggles or infighting.

He also pushed to increase the Senate seat to 34, saying that the country’s party system should be regionalized to promote representation in government.

“Para malimitahan ng malimitahan ng Metro Manila, what they call the Imperial Manila, malimitahan ng malimitahan na yung mayayaman sa Metro Manila, nag e-elect ng nag eelect gumagawa ng party list system,” he said.

Mangondato for federal shift

Mangondato said he would push to shift the country’s form of government from unitary to federalism in three years.

"Kaya dapat po buwagin na po itong party-list na sistema. Palitan na ito, tayo ay tumawid na sa bagong sistema. Kung titignan kung sino sino 'yung mga karamihan sa party list, halos karamihan po mga pulitiko ang namumuno," Mangondato said.

"Umalis na tayo sa lumang sistema at tumawid na tayo sa bagong sistema umalis na tayo sa lumang sistema at tumawid na tayo sa federalismo, ang bagong sistema," he added —NB, GMA News