And I thought the party-list hoopla could not be more ridiculous. Atty. Karlo “Kaka” Nograles, eldest son of Majority Floor Leader Rep. Pospero “Boy” Nograles (1st Disctrict, Davao City), is an official nominee of party-list group Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran Laban sa Kahirapan (Kalahi). Allegedly, Kalahi represents Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). What is remarkable is the younger Nograles is not and has never been an OFW. He defends his nomination by saying he is fit to represent the said sector because he has “experience” as a “labor lawyer.” May I ask what these experiences are??? Following this line of argument, then just about every Filipino can be a party-list nominee, as long as they have “experience” as a youth, as an elderly, or as or is remotely related to any member of the marginalized sector. In defending himself, the younger Nograles is quoted asking “How can a trisikad driver make landmark laws in the Congress?” Aren’t OFWs lucky to have such “experienced” and tactful person represent them?
A lot of Filipino voters are still clueless regarding the party-list system and its relevance to our political system. Here’s the full text of Republic Act No. 7941 (RA 7941) known as the Party-List System Act enacted on March 3, 1995:
REPUBLIC ACT No. 7941
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ELECTION OF PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVES THROUGH THE PARTY-LIST SYSTEM, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “Party-List System Act.”
Section 2. Declaration of party. The State shall promote proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives through a party-list system of registered national, regional and sectoral parties or organizations or coalitions thereof, which will enable Filipino citizens belonging to marginalized and under-represented sectors, organizations and parties, and who lack well-defined political constituencies but who could contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation that will benefit the nation as a whole, to become members of the House of Representatives. Towards this end, the State shall develop and guarantee a full, free and open party system in order to attain the broadcast possible representation of party, sectoral or group interests in the House of Representatives by enhancing their chances to compete for and win seats in the legislature, and shall provide the simplest scheme possible.
Rep. Darlene Custodio has filed a motion to cancel the airing of Manny Pacquiao’s boxing match against Mexican Jorge Solis. Both Custodio and Pacquaio are vying for a Congress seat to represent the First Distict of the Province of South Cotabato.
As I was surfing the internet, researching for useful and reliable information about the upcoming elections, I was directed to a seemingly informative blog: Philippine Elections 2007 (url: http://philippineelections2007.blogspot.com). I say seemingly because, in my opinion, the blog is nothing but a stupid excuse to earn money off people’s need for information.
The February and March surveys conducted by the Social Weather Station shows that Loren Legarda is still leading the pack. The surveys were conducted on February 24 - 27, 2007 and March 15 - 18, 2007. Both results are based on a survey of 1,200 respondents, with allegedly a margin of error of 3%. The rest of the results of the survey may be found here.
