No AGP rep in House unless Mikey Arroyo gives way — Comelec

The Ang Galing Pinoy (AGP) party-list group will not be represented in the House of Representatives unless its first nominee, former presidential son and ex-Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, gives up his spot to the group's second nominee. On Thursday, Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said Mikey will have to give way to AGP's second nominee, former Lubao, Pampanga mayor Dennis Pineda, if he wants the group to have a House representative in the 15th Congress. "We can only proclaim the group’s second nominee if he (Mikey Arroyo) gives way. If he does not, hindi pwede (we cannot)," Larrazabal told reporters in an interview. Mikey was earlier disallowed from being sitting as AGP's representative because of several disqualification cases filed against him. Former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and former Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza and Bayan Muna separately sought the disqualification of Mikey, saying that he is not a member of the sector which AGP seeks to represent. AGP supposedly represents security guards and tricycle drivers. Militant group Akbayan likewise asked the poll body to immediately declare the disqualification of the nominees of AGP for failing to comply with a requirement mandated by the law. Comelec Resolution 8807 requires party-list groups to submit documentary evidence to prove that their nominees "truly belong" to the marginalized and underrepresented sector they seek to represent. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, for his part, said that it's up to AGP to decide the matter. "It’s the party that should make that decision. If the party-list is really desirous of a seat in Congress, then it should make that decision to talk to its nominees and put the best interest of organization first," he said. AGP's third, fourth, and fifth nominees are former Bacolor mayor Romeo "Buddy" Dungca, and Pampanga residents Jerold Domonick S. David and Ryan. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV