Poll officials 'divided' on Akbayan disqualification case

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday tackled the two disqualification cases filed Akbayan Citizen's Action Party but has yet to decide on them as officials were divided on whether the group could run in next year's elections. "Divided na ang boto. May majority na. 4-3 o 5-2," said Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. in an interview with reporters. Groups that want Akbayan disqualified — Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kontra Daya, among others — claim Akbayan does not represent the marginalized and underrepresented as some of its previous and current members are holding government posts. Brillantes said one consideration during the en banc debate is the multi-sectoral nature of Akbayan, similar with the disqualified Ako Bicol party-list. "[We've considered] 'yung similarity ng Akbayan with Ako Bicol. But the difference [is] on the track record of Akbayan as against Ako Bicol. Wala namang track record ang Ako Bicol. Akbayan meron, matagal na ang Akbayan," he said. Those with ties to Akbayan who now occupy posts include Loretta Rosales (Commission on Human Rights chairperson) and Ronald Llamas (presidential political adviser).   Another Akbayan member, defeated 2010 senatorial bet Theresia Baraquel, is again running for the Senate under the administration coalition. During the 2010 polls, Baraquel was a guest candidate of the Liberal Party, President Benigno Aquino III’s political group.     Akbayan’s nominees for the 2013 midterm polls have also held government positions: Barry Gutierrez was Malacañang’s undersecretary for political affairs, while Angelina Ludovice-Katoh was commissioner-in-charge for Mindanao and women concerns from the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor.   Akbayan members, who denied that they do not represent marginalized sectors, had earlier had a verbal tussle and shoving match with Anakbayan members when the latter barged in the former's press conference and called Akbayan a "fake party-list."   The statement of election contributions and expenditures of Akbayan also revealed that President Aquino’s sisters – TV personality Kris Aquino, Maria Elena "Ballsy" Aquino Cruz and Victoria “Viel” Aquino-Dee – donated P14 million to its campaign fund in 2010 elections.   This led critics to believe that Akbayan is now a mainstream political party strongly allied with the administration and one that cannot claim to represent marginalized sectors. Akbayan has denied the accusations.     Brillantes previously said they would not prioritize the Akbayan case just because of their scuffle with Anakbayan, which caught public attention.   “We’re going over almost 300 party-lists. We don’t want to rush any particular party-list just because they’re fighting there. Bakit naman sila bibigyan ng priority dahil lang nag-aaway?” he had said. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/KBK, GMA News