Marginalized
sectors in the Philippines include the self-employed or those working in family
workshops, jeepneys drivers, rural workers like fisherfolks, farmers, urban
poor, indigenous cultural communities, elderly, handicapped, women, youth, and
such other sectors as may be provided by law, except the religious sector
(Section 5(2), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution; Section 5, RA 7941). The
nature and operation of their work are beyond the scope and reach of government
legislation and regulations on labor as there are no employer-employee
relationships.
The
1987 Constitution clearly provides the marginalized sectors a chance to be
represented in the House of Representatives. Each party-list group is required
to pass a list of nominees who will represent them when they won in the
election. In addition to the usual requirements like being a natural-born citizen
of the Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, the nominees must
belong to the marginalized sector they represent (Section 9 of RA 7941).
These
rules and guidelines should be followed to the letter. Failure to pass the
requirements should be subject to disqualification. COMELEC has the authority
and the full implementing powers to disqualify these party-list groups.
Through
the years, the party-list system has been repeatedly abused and misused. Either
the marginalized sectors being represented in the House of Representatives are not
so marginalized anymore or the Representative is not as marginalized as he
thinks he is.
Last
year, the Ang Galing Pinoy party-list have been disqualified by the COMELEC due
to failure to pass evidence to justify their accreditation and participation in
the May 2013 elections. Ever since after the filing of candidacies and the May
2010 elections, Ang Galing Pinoy has been under heavy fire for its first choice
nominee, Mikey Arroyo, son of former President and now Pampanga Representative
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Detractors accused the son of using the party-list to
secure another term in the House of Representatives. Facts clearly show that he
is not even a security guard or a driver that APG is representing. Even the
other nominees of APG do not fall under the category of the marginalized sector.
This made others speculate that the party-list is just a front for the Arroyos.
The
party-list system has truly evolved as a money-making scheme for some
politicians. It has deviated from its original purpose of representing the
marginalized sector. AGP and Representative Mikey Arroyo should be disqualified
and the slot be given to other party-list groups who are more deserving and are
really serving the marginalized sector they represent.
COMELEC
should be vigilant and strict in giving party-list groups the authorization and
go signal to participate in the elections. They should constantly check the
status of these organizations. Party-list groups should pass their
accreditation papers before given the authorization to run for election.
Time
will come that the party-list system will really live out to its mission of
representing and serving the marginalized sectors. Give to Caesar what belongs
to Caesar, give to the marginalized what belongs to the marginalized.
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