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From: anakbayan media <anakbayan.media@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2012 22:28:09 -0800
Subject: NEWS: Anakbayan fears of Malacanang pressure on Comelec re party-lists
October 18, 2012
Anakbayan fears of Malacanang pressure on Comelec re party-lists
Youth group Anakbayan today assailed Presidential Spokesman Edwin
Lacierda defending Akbayan and Black and White Movement and called on
the Malacanang to stop pressuring Comelec re partylist
disqualification.
Anakbayan national chair Vencer Crisostomo said Presidential Spokesman
Edwin Lacierda's defense of Akbayan and Black and White Movement is
proof of their close ties with the Palace.
"Lacierda's argument is poor defense. They still continue to evade the
question: whether or not we should allow Palace officials to run for
party-list," he said.
Crisostomo called on Comelec not to give in to Palace pressures and
disqualify Akbayan, Black and White Movement, and several other
party-lists with close ties with Malacanang and with members which
hold appointive government positions.
He called on the Comelec not to give in to pressure from Malcanang and
their allies.
"We hope the Comelec will not give Aquino party-lists special
treatment re their party-list purge. The cleansing of the partylist
system would be pointless if they will not include Palace-backed
partylists," said Crisostomo.
Comelec chairman Sixto Brilliantes has been quoted as saying that
having members in government positions is not grounds for
disqualification, referring to Akbayan. It was also reported that
Ronald Llamas and Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello called Brilliantes to
"inquire" re Akbayan's accreditation.
Crisostomo also pointed out the COA report questioning the National
Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) for hiring consultants and contractuals
who were paid P27.97 million pesos.
"The SC ruling on the party-list system clearly prohibits
government-funded and supported entities. Akbayan has control of NAPC
funds and CCT. The mere fact that they are in power gives undue
advantage to their party," he said.
Crisostomo also said that nominees of Akbayan and Black and White are
clearly not from marginalized and underrepresented sectors and are
appointees of the president.
The Supreme Court ruling states, among others that:
The parties must not be an adjunct of, or a project organized or an
entity funded or assisted by, the government;
The parties must represent the marginalized and underrepresented
sectors; so also must its nominees;
Among Akbayan members in government are presidential adviser Ronald
Llamas, anti-poverty commission head Joel Rocamora, CHR chair Etta
Rosales, GSIS board member Mario Aguho and NYC commissioner Percy
Cendena. Its nominees Barry Gutierrez and Angeline Katoh also hold
appointive positions.
--
#89 K7 Street corner Kalayaan Avenue, Quezon City
Website: anakbayan.org
Facebook.com/anakbayan
Twitter: @anakbayan_ph
Anakbayan is the comprehensive mass organization of the Filipino youth, advocating genuine national independence and democracy as a solution to the nation's problems. It is open to anyone from 13 to 35 years old, and currently has a 20,000-strong membership across the Philippines and in several cities in the U.S and Canada.
It is not a partylist group and is in no way affiliated with the pro-Aquino group Akbayan.
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