1 KONTRADAYA’S INITIAL REVIEW OF PARTYLIST GROUPS SEEKING POSTS IN THE 2013 ELECTIONS (As of August 12, 2012) PARTY-LIST NOMINEES, REPRESENTATION Ang Mata’y Alagaan (AMA) The first 3 nominees of this group all came from the family of Justice Presbitero Velasco – First Nominee Lorna Q. Velasco is his wife; Second and Third nominees Atty. Tricia Nicole Velasco-Catera and Vincent Michael Velasco are his children. Justice Velasco’s other son, Lord Allan Jay, is currently a Congressman representing the lone district of Marinduque. None of these nominees, and even AMA itself,have any track record in adhering or advocating for the interest of the sector they wish to represent. Neither do these nominees belong the marginalized and underrepresented sector they wish to represent. Even at the minimum, they do not belong to any marginalized and underrepresented sector as required by law. On the contrary, the Velascos are very powerful politically and economically, considering that they have as head of the family a sitting member of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the highest court of this country. They are also represented in the House of Representatives, through Rep. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco, the Congressman for the Lone District of Marinduque. By this, clearly AMA has no bona fide intention to represent the sector they claim to represent, but rather to represent the interest of the already powerful, well-connected Velascos.
Transcript
1
KONTRADAYA’S INITIAL REVIEW OF PARTYLIST GROUPS SEEKING POSTS IN THE 2013
ELECTIONS (As of August 12, 2012)
PARTY-LIST
NOMINEES, REPRESENTATION
Ang Mata’y Alagaan (AMA)
The first 3 nominees of this group all came from the family of Justice Presbitero Velasco – First Nominee Lorna Q. Velasco is his wife; Second and Third nominees Atty. Tricia Nicole Velasco-Catera and Vincent Michael Velasco are his children. Justice Velasco’s other son, Lord Allan Jay, is currently a Congressman representing the lone district of Marinduque. None of these nominees, and even AMA itself,have any track record in adhering or advocating for the interest of the sector they wish to represent. Neither do these nominees belong the marginalized and underrepresented sector they wish to represent. Even at the minimum, they do not belong to any marginalized and underrepresented sector as required by law. On the contrary, the Velascos are very powerful politically and economically, considering that they have as head of the family a sitting member of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the highest court of this country. They are also represented in the House of Representatives, through Rep. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco, the Congressman for the Lone District of Marinduque. By this, clearly AMA has no bona fide intention to represent the sector they claim to represent, but rather to represent the interest of the already powerful, well-connected Velascos.
2
Aksyon Magsasaka-PartidoTinig ng Masa
Even a glance at the group’s first nominee of this supposedly peasant/farmer group would show that it has no business in joining the party-list system of elections and created merely by the landlords of this country to circumvent the law. The first nominee of this group is Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, governor of Tarlac for 6 years, wife of Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, owners of Hacienda Luisita, a vast sugar estate which was recently ordered by the Supreme Court to be distributed to the farmers. Cojuangco has no business representing farmers since she is a big landlord. The land dispute surrounding Hacienda Luisita has resulted to the death of 14 farmers and injury to at least 200 workers in November 2004. It took the farmers of Luisita at least 45 years to attain land reform which was denied to the by the Cojuancos, and necessitated the intervention of the Supreme Court. This clearly shows that Margarita Cojuanco’s track record negates any advocacy of uplifting the rights and welfare of the farmers. Aside from having interest adverse to the sector she claims to represent, Cojuanco already served as a former governor of Tarlac from 1992 to 1998.Moreover, Cojuangco intended to run for vice governor of ARMM under PDP-Laban last year but her nephew, President Aquino, pushed to postpone the elections and synchronize it with the 2013 elections. Without even commenting that Cojuanco does not belong to ANY marginalized and underrepresented sectors, it shows that she has the financial and political machinery to compete in regular elections. Participation of this group as represented by Cojuanco will put the electoral process in mockery and disrepute, in the same manner that Ang Galing Pinoy through Mikey Arroyo placed the party-list system in mockery and ridicule of the entire nation.
3
Alliance of Mindanao Elders
A perusal of its first nominee would clearly show that this group not only failed to comply with the requirements of a party-list group, but also show that it has no bona fide intention to represent Mindanao Elders in Congress. Its participation, through its nominee, would only result in the mockery and disrepute of the electoral process. Its first nominee is Jorge L. Banal is the father of Quezon City Congressman Bolet Banal and an appointed acting member of the board of directors of the Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC). Jorge L. Banal served as a Quezon City Councilor for 4 terms. Banal does not belong to the sector he claims to represent. He comes from a political family and presently very close to the Aquino administration. A known Quezon City political figure, Banal has no track record of being an advocate of the welfare of the Minadano peoples, nor of Mindanao elders.
First nominee Plaridel M. Abaya does not belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sector. He was previously Congressman representing the First District of Cavite from 1995 to 2005. He is the father of current Cavite Congressman and House Appropriations Committee Chair Jun Abaya of the Liberal Party. These credentials and background reveal that Abante Retirees, through Abaya, have no business joining the party-list system because as proven, he can win in the regular election system. It is also of note that the Abaya family has close ties with the present Aquino administration.
Ilaw Ng Bayan ILAW ILAW claims to represent the marginalized and underrepresentedsector of urban poor. However, its first nominee is Gerard Hilarion M. Ramiro, is the farthest from belonging to the urban poor sector. Ramiro’s father is long term Congressman Hilarion Ramiro of the 2ND District of Misamis Occidental
4
(1987 to 1995, 1998 to 2001), and his mother is Congresswoman Herminia Ramiro also of the 2ND District of Misamis Occidental (1995 to 1998; 2001 to 2010), who is currently the Governor of the province of Misamis Occidental. He clearly belongs to a powerful political family and could win in regular elections without exploiting the party-list system and circumventing the law. In addition, Ramiro has no track record of advocating for rights and welfare of the urban poor sector.
Movement of Women for Change and Reform (MELCHORA)
While its first nominee, Mary Grace Ibuna, is clearly a woman, this does not automatically entitle her and her group a slot in the party-list system of elections. Ibuna, heiress to the wealthy Ibuna family, whose grandfather was one of the longest serving mayor of San Juan, Metro Manila (12 years), is heir of the late Congressman Iggy Arroyo whose assets are estimated to amount to hundreds of millions. Even if her husband has died, she is no different from the wives and children of political clans who are disqualified from the party-list system, since she has as resources the political and economic clout of Cong. Iggy Arroyo in Negros.
Ako Ang Batang Sora (ABS)
One of the red flags in exposing a fake partylist group which has no intention of genuinely representing the marginalized and underrepresented is if it is a family affair as this ABS party list is. First nominee Vanessa Rose Susano Francisco is the niece of former Representative Mary Ann Susano. Another nominee, Maricel Susano Francisco is the sister of the first nominee. Another nominee, Michael Ryan Susano Francisco, is the brother of the 1st and 2nd nominee. Clearly, ABS has no bona fide intention to represent the marginalized and underrepresented sectors they claim to represent. Rather, ABS is established to promote the interest and maintain political power of the Susano Francisco clan. All these personalities do not belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sector ABS claim to represent. Neither do they have any track record of advocacy related to this sector.
Ako Para Sa Batang Pinoy
First nominee Jewel Lobaton-Pimentel is the wife of senator Aquilino Pimentel III. Clearly, she does not belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors enumerated by the law.
5
Ako Karay-A (AK) First nominee Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez is disqualified from being a nominee for a party-list group because she does not belong to a marginalized and underrepresented sector, and also because she has ran and lost in the 2010 elections. Perez is already a politician in her own right, having served as the Governor of the province of Antique from 2001 until 2010. In 2010 she ran for Congress but was defeated. Clearly, Perez does not belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sector. She is further disqualified to be a nominee for a party-list group because she previously ran and lost in an election. Rule 4, Section 5 of the Comelec Resolution No. 9366 provides: “The list shall not include any candidate for any elective office or a person who has lost his bid for an elective office in the immediately preceding election.” By including Perez in its roster of nominees, AK violated the election law which requires that a party-list group shall not include as nominees those who previously ran and lost in the immediately preceding election: “Sec. 8 Each registered party, organization or coalition shall submit to the COMELEC xxx a list of names, not less than five (5), from which party-list representatives shall be chosen in case it obtains the required number of votes.xxx The list shall not include any candidate for any elective office or a person who has lost his bid for an elective office in the immediately preceding election.”
Ako Bisaya Political Party (AKO BISAYA)
First nominee Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz was a member of a major political party KAMPI and the One Cebu Party until she transferred to the Nacionalista Party and ran in the Mandaue mayoral election in 2010. She lost in that election clearly disqualifying her to be a nominee under RA 7941, Section 8 and Comelec Resolution 9366. She has been elected to five terms as a Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, representing the Sixth District of Cebu from 1992 to 1998, and from 2001 to 2010. AkoBisaya’s registration must also be denied or cancelled because it submitted in its list of nominees Cong. Soon Ruiz in violation of RA 7941 which orders a party list group not to submit the name of a
6
person who has ran and lost in the previous election, to wit: Sec. 8 Each registered party, organization or coalition shall submit to the COMELEC xxx a list of names, not less than five (5), from which party-list representatives shall be chosen in case it obtains the required number of votes. xxx The list shall not include any candidate for any elective office or a person who has lost his bid for an elective office in the immediately preceding election
Agrarian Development Association (ADA)
ADA party-list is obviously intended by the Singson political family to have more seats in Congress and remain in power. First nominee Eric D. Singson is a former deputy speaker in the House of Representatives and was a congressman in the 8th, 9th, 10th and 12th Congress. His wife, Grace Singson, served as Mayor of Candon from 1987 to 1995 and Congresswoman of 2ND District Ilocos Sur from 1998 to 2001. His son, Allen Singson, is currently the Mayor of Candon. Second nominee Eric “Owen” G. Singson, Jr. is the son of the First Nominee. He is also the Congressman of Ilocos Sur in this 15th Congress. Clearly, these nominees do not belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors of peasants/farmers. Neither do they have any track record of adhering to the advocacy of the rights and welfare of the marginalized and underrepresented sectors. It would be a major defeat for the party list system, if these powerful political family gets a seat in Congress through a party-list election. By attempting to participate in the party-list system, they are putting the electoral process in mockery and disrepute.
7
Alliance Advocating Autonomy Party (1AAA PARTY)
First nominee Pantaleon D. Alvarez served as Congressman for the First District of Davao Del Norte from 1998 to 2001. He also served as the Transportation and Communications Secretary under the administration of Arroyo from 2007 to 2010. Alvarez does not belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sector he seeks to represent. Obviously, he can win in the regular election.
The True Marcos Loyalist For God, Country & People Association of the Phil., Inc. (BANTAY)
This group is led by Ma. Evangeline F. Palparan, spouse of Gen. JovitoPalparan. Palparan does not belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sector of society nor has she the track record of advocating for the marginalized and underrepresented. It is also unclear what marginalized sector BANTAY actually seeks to represent. The “Marcos loyalists” for that matter cannot be considered a marginalized sector under existing laws.
AbangLingkod, Inc. (ABANG LINGKOD)
Abang Lingkod is not a party-list representing the farmers. Its founders, nominees and members are not farmers. This is a blatant violation of the party-lists laws. Its first nominee Joseph Stephen Paduano aka CarapaliLualhati, the national commander of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Buncayao Brigade. Paduano and his group have been accused of being guns for hire by landlords of Negros and of human rights violations of farmers in the province of Negros. Second nominee Patrick Leonard Lacson is Board Member-3rdDistrict of Negros Occidental. Contrary to the claimed advocacy of AbangLingkod, Lacson is not a farmer, but rather a big landlord in the province of Negros. Not only do both Paduano and Lacson “not belong” to the peasants they claim to represent, but they actually represent an interest contradictory to the farmers and peasants.
8
1 Joint Alliance of Marginalized Group (1JAMG)
First nominee Homero A. Mercado was the representative of partylist 1-UTAK, but relinquished his seat to join 1-JAMG. His net worth while in Congress was P65.014 Million. Clearly, he does not belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors 1JAMG claim to represent.
Pasang Masda Nationwide, Inc. (PASANG MASDA)
Pasang Masda appears as a legitimate transport group but its second nominee does not belong to the transport sector. Second nominee Atty. Ferdinand Topacio is legal counsel for former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and has held several government positions. Contrary to the guidelines set by the Supreme Court, Atty. Topacio does not belong to the sector that Pasang Masda claims to represent.
Alay Buhay Community Development Foundation, Inc. (ALAY BUHAY)
The credentials of first nominee Weslie T. Gatchalian reflect that he does not belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sector Alay Buhay claims to represent: Executive Vice President of Metro Alliance Holdings & Equities Corp. since 2005. Vice President for Investments and Foreign Affairs of The Wellex Group of Companies. Assistant Vice President of Westlink Global Equities Corp. President of Wellex Industries Inc. since January 1, 2008 and served as its Treasurer since January 19, 2006. He is also brother to Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian and Valenzuela congressman Rex Gatchalian.
ALA-EH- Association of Local Athletics Entrepreneurs and Hobbyists Inc.
First nominee Elmer T. Anuran is president of Saved by the Bell Promotions and owner of the Touch Gloves Boxing Gym. Clearly, he does not belong to a marginalized and underrepresented sector. Athletics entrepreneurs and hobbyists are not a marginalized sector under the law.
9
AAA –Aviation Advancement Advocates Inc.
This group does not represent any marginalized and underrepresented sector. Aviation advocates are not considered as marginalized sector under the 1987 Constitution. Moreover, the nominees of this group had previously held high positions in government. This means that they are neither marginalized nor underrepresented. First nominee Daniel A. Dimagiba is a former ATO chief. He was dismissed as Deputy Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)-due to a Carrier Operating Certificate issued to One Sky Aviation allegedly an air carrier in the Philippines, which turned out to be non-existent. He is married to a Court of Appeals Justice, LeonciaDimagiba. Second nominee is Cezar B. Germino, Director, Civil Aviation Training Center. Third nominee is Conrado G. Rosales Jr. , Chief, Airspace and Traffic Management Division.
FXD/MC (WWW. FOREXDEALERS.COM CORP)
The advocacy of this group does not belong to the party-list system. The money-changing industry is not a marginalized sector.
1Pinoy Para saKalikasan , Inc.
The nominees of this group are disqualified under the party-list law because they do not belong the marginalized and underrepresented sectors, and also for having run and lost in the 2010 elections, an immediately preceding election. First nominee Roselyn Espina Paras is from the politically powerful and well-connected Espina Clan in Eastern Visayas. Her father is former Congressman and now Kawayan Mayor Gerry Espina Sr. Her brothers are also occupying government posts –CogressmanRoger Espina, Governor Gerardo EspinaJr and Kawayan Vice-Mayor Rodolfo Espina. Clearly, this first nominee does not belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sector. Moreover, she ran for Naval Vice Mayor in 2010 but lost.
10
Second nominee Azalea D. Hidalgo is a former councillor in Naguilian, La Union. Hidalgo ran and lost in the 2010 mayoral race. Third nominee Julienne L. Baronda was a former Iloilo city councilor who also ran and lost in the 2010 vice mayoral elections. These nominees are from participating in the party-list elections because they previously ran and lost in apreceeding election. Rule 4, Section 5 of the Comelec Resolution No. 9366 provides: “The list shall not include any candidate for any elective office or a person who has lost his bid for an elective office in the immediately preceding election.”
1-ASAL 1-Asal Partylist
This group claims to represent the urban poor sector. However, this claim is belied by the fact that no one of their nominees belong to said sector. First nominee Atty. Ryan Tanjutco is a resident of Corinthian Gardens. The second nominee is Raymundo R. Yupangco, who is an incumbent Manila City councilor. Third nominee is Maria Lourdes V. Tanjutco, a businesswoman and wife of first nominee. Clearly, this group do not belong to the party-list system of elections.
YES WE CAN This group does not represent any marginalized and underrepresented sectors. Neither do its nominees belong the marginalized and underrepresented sectors. First nominee is Joshua John C. Santiago, barangay captain of San Lorenzo, one of Makati’s richest baranggays. He was ordered suspended by the city council after he was found guilty of purchasing and failing to install 670 pieces of lampposts worth P24 million; issuing a P5.8 million check for a non-existent commuter shed and issuing a P300,000 check in the name of the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines (DSAP). Second nominee is Tanya Katherine Rosales Lyttle aka Tanya Garcia, an actress married to former PampagaGovernor Mark Lapid.
11
SPORTS EXCELLENCE for HEALTHIER LIFE JOURNEY SEL-J
This group does not represent a marginalized and underrepresented sector. First nominee Jay Y. Lacnit is the CEO, SEL-J Pharma Corporation, one of the country’s biggest importers of drugs and medicines. The name of the partylist group is the same as the name of the company of the first nominee. Clearly this is intentional so that the group can bank on the name recall of the pharmaceutical company. Second nominee is Alexander L. Acain Jr., Managing partner, Guanzon Tanedo and Acain Law Firm.
1+1 Katipunan This group is not composed of nominees belonging to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors. First nominee Delfin J. Wenceslao is the Chairman and President of D.M. Wenceslao & Associates, Inc. and Fabricom Manufacturing Corporation. Second nominee Artemio R. Arugayis aformer PVAO official charged with graft and corruption in 2011.
ANG MINERO Comelec needs to probe the real intention and representation of this group. Its second nominee is Horacio Ramos, former Director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
ABOT TANAW This group is another creation of former PAGCOR Chairman Efraim Genuino. First nominee is Dante Guevarra, former president of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Its previous first nominee was Gerwin See, son-in-law of Pagcor chair Genuino. The previous nominees of Abot Tanaw for the 2010 elections were all Pagcor consultants.
Black and White Political Party (BLACK AND WHITE)
Black and White’s personalities and convenors have been appointed to various positions in the Aquino cabinet; . Dinky Soliman (DSWD), Ging Deles (OPPAP), Edwin Lacierda (Presidential Spokesman), Alberto Lim (former DoT secretary).
12
The group is headed by former DoT Undersecretary Vicente Romano. Its first nominee is Leah Navarro, who is currently a board member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board of the Office.
Alliance for Rural and Agrarian Reconstruction Inc (ARARO)
First nominee is Quirino Dela Torre, a retired police general who was the PNP regional chief at the time of the Hacienda Luisita Massacre in 2004. He clearly does not belong to the farmer sector. His interest, as proven by his track record is also adverse to the interest of the farmer sector which Araro claims to represent.
Ang National Coalition of Indigenous People’s Action Na! Inc. (ANAC-IP)
The first nominee Jose T. Panganiban Jr. is the current Vice-Mayor of Angandanan, Isabela. His wife meanwhile is the Mayor of Angandanan, Lourdes G. Segarra-Panganiban. Clearly, Panganiban could not claim to belong to any marginalized and underrepresented sector. He can very well run in regular elections.
1-WIL SERVE WIL The nominees do not belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors of society: First nominee Ferdinand Domingo is a named partner of Domingo Tiu Reyno Santos Law firm. Second nominee Christopher Reyno, director of Arceo Equities and Manila Jockey Club
Alliance for Reforms Towards Effective Management and Sustainable Development
This group does not truly and actually represent the marginalized and underrepresented sectors. This group, as evidenced by the composition of its nominees, would clearly represent not the interest of the marginalized and underrepresented but the interests of the Ecleo family. First nominee Gwendolyn Durano is the Mayor of Dinagat Islands since 2004. She is belongs to the Ecleo political clan. Clearly, she does not belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sector and could very well run in the regular elections. Second nominee Jose Aspiras, is the lawyer of Ruben Ecleo Jr. Third nominee JannisTeopo is the owner of San Jose Dinagat Mining Corporation. His interest is clearly adverse to the interest of the sector he intends to represent.
