Despite purge, politicians remain in party-list system

Last Nov. 29, the Comelec released its “semi-final” list of approved party-list groups for the 2013 polls. Despite the poll body’s efforts to supposedly cleanse the system of groups that fail to represent the marginalized and underrepresented sectors, however, a cursory look at the list shows groups affiliated with government officials, millionaires, and well-entrenched political families. Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the seven-member poll body, which goes by majority rule, did not have a unanimous vote on many groups. The following are among the groups that were approved with dissenting votes for having questionable nominees: Abono The group claims to represent the farmers’ sector but for the 2013 elections, its first nominee is Conrado M. Estrella III, who was Pangasinan sixth district representative from 1987 to 1995. He is also the brother of Rep. Robert Raymond Estrella. The second nominee, Francisco Emmanuel R. Ortega III, is Abono’s incumbent representative and also belongs to a family of politicians in La Union; his father, Manuel Ortega, is the governor of the province while his uncle, Victor Francisco, is the first district representative. Bagong Henerasyon The party-list group claiming to represent the urban poor, women and elderly has nominated their incumbent representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy, who served as Quezon City councilor for nine years. She is also a known ally of former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Its second nominee is Bernadette’s husband, Edgar Allan Dy. Ang Asosasyon Sang Mangunguma Nga Bisaya-Owa Mangunguma, Inc. The group claiming to represent the Iloilo region nominated its incumbent representative Sharon Garin, sister of Janette Garin, the incumbent representative of Iloilo’s first district. Abante Mindanao The Mindanaoan group fielded Maximo Rodriguez, brother of Cagayan de Oro second district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. Ang Kasangga The group representing microentrepreneurs has nominated its incumbent representative Teodorico Haresco, chair of Winsource Solutions, a service provider for call center agencies and other business process outsourcing companies. Haresco is the third richest party-list representative in the 15th Congress as of 2011, with a net worth of P92.8 million. Association of Laborers and Employees The group nominated Catalina Bagasina, its incumbent representative, who has a net worth of P133.9 million as of 2011 and served as mayor of Sasmuan, Pampanga. Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption CIBAC’s first nominee is Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, director of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. He is the son of Jesus is Lord founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva, a defeated presidential candidate in the 2010 elections. The second nominee is Sherwin Tugna, son-in-law of the JIL founder. Ang Laban ng Indigong Filipino The group claiming to represent indigenous peoples nominated Abdul Tomawis, the son of incumbent Rep. Tomawis who has been ALIF representative since 2004. Buhay Hayaang Yumabong The group is represented by Mariano Michael Velarde, son of El Shaddai founder Mike Velarde. Even though the Supreme Court ruling Ang Bagong Bayani vs Comelec prohibits religious groups from participating in the party-list elections, Comelec chief Brillantes said the poll body decided that Buhay is not a religious party-list group. Michael Velarde is the 10th richest party-list representative as of 2011, with a net worth of P53 million. Kasosyo Producer-Consumer Exchange Association, Inc. The group has fielded Nasser Pangandaman, who served as Agrarian Reform secretary from 2007 to 2009, as its first nominee. Arts Business and Science Professionals The group has nominated its incumbent representative Catalina Leonen-Pizarro, wife of Court of Appeals Justice Normandie Pizarro and the 13th richest party-list representative as of 2011 with a net worth of P40.375 million. Agbiag! Timpuyog Ilocano, Inc. Its nominee is still its incumbent representative Patricio Antonio, who served as Cagayan first district representative from 1992 to 1995. Una ang Pamilya The group advocating the development of the family has nominated Romeo Prestoza, Arroyo’s former Presidential Security Group chief. Its third nominee is their incumbent representative Reena Obillo, who served as senior program officer of the Department of Agrarian Reform from 1988 to 2001. - Marc Cayabyab/YA, GMA News