De Lima files bill to prevent abuse of party-list system
Published Jul 15, 2019 12:55 pm
By Hannah Torregoza
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima is seeking passage of a bill that would reform the existing party-list system, saying it was high-time to ensure that only the marginalized sectors of society are genuinely represented in government.
Senator Leila de Lima
(REUTERS / ROMEO RANOCO / FILE PHOTO MANILA BULLETIN) In filing a bill amending Republic Act 7941, also known as the Partylist Law, de Lima said it was imperative to clarify the ambiguities in the law that some politicians conveniently use and circumvent to make a mockery of the system and vault themselves to power. “Prostituting the party-list system can no longer be allowed to persist,” de Lima said. “It is high time we emphasize that the partylist system of representation is, more than titles and seats, a social justice tool that ought to give more law to those who have less in life,” she said. Currently, de Lima noted that those warming the seats of party-list organizations were actually moneyed politicians and businesses, “bastardizing” the original intent of the Party-list Law. The former justice secretary pointed out that the original framers of the 1987 Constitution indicated that the party-list system was conceived with the clear intention “that the system will democratize political power by encouraging the growth of a multi-party system.” However, some party-list organizations have been infiltrated by politicians and businesses that have vested interests. Citing the case of Bayan Muna vs. COMELEC, de Lima pointed out that former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban stressed the importance of the party-list system in empowering the masses to directly participate in legislation that would benefit them. But Panganiban, himself, also warned that the party-list groups could be infiltrated by those who do not genuinely represent the causes and plight of the marginalized and underrepresented. “It did not take long before the masses were robbed of the constitutional gift. Seats constitutionally reserved for the marginalized were quickly warmed by the bottoms of the greedy,” de Lima said, referring to the entry of prominent political and business names as party-list representatives. De Lima said the bill seeks to put a stop to the growing abuses of the party-list system law by clearly defining the term “bona fide member” of a party to ensure those who really belong to the marginalized sectors will act as their representatives. The measure also seeks to ensure that a party-list group would be disqualified from participating in the election if all of its nominees become unable to assume their post as party-list representative after the campaign period begins. “This bill further gives the power to the party rather than the nominee by giving the party the opportunity to replace their representative during their term,” said de Lima. The measure also seeks to prevent political dynasties from abusing the party-list system. Once passed into law, it will prohibit any person from being nominated as party-list representative if he/she is related by affinity or consanguinity within the third degree to an incumbent elected official. The senator said this includes mayor, vice-mayor, governor, vice-governor, district representative, party-list representative, senator, vice president, and the president. “With this bill, we will give back the gift to the people, and we will give life to social justice as envisioned by our forefathers whose noble intentions should be the fertile grounds on which we plant the seeds of hope,” de Lima said.
Senator Leila de Lima(REUTERS / ROMEO RANOCO / FILE PHOTO MANILA BULLETIN) In filing a bill amending Republic Act 7941, also known as the Partylist Law, de Lima said it was imperative to clarify the ambiguities in the law that some politicians conveniently use and circumvent to make a mockery of the system and vault themselves to power. “Prostituting the party-list system can no longer be allowed to persist,” de Lima said. “It is high time we emphasize that the partylist system of representation is, more than titles and seats, a social justice tool that ought to give more law to those who have less in life,” she said. Currently, de Lima noted that those warming the seats of party-list organizations were actually moneyed politicians and businesses, “bastardizing” the original intent of the Party-list Law. The former justice secretary pointed out that the original framers of the 1987 Constitution indicated that the party-list system was conceived with the clear intention “that the system will democratize political power by encouraging the growth of a multi-party system.” However, some party-list organizations have been infiltrated by politicians and businesses that have vested interests. Citing the case of Bayan Muna vs. COMELEC, de Lima pointed out that former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban stressed the importance of the party-list system in empowering the masses to directly participate in legislation that would benefit them. But Panganiban, himself, also warned that the party-list groups could be infiltrated by those who do not genuinely represent the causes and plight of the marginalized and underrepresented. “It did not take long before the masses were robbed of the constitutional gift. Seats constitutionally reserved for the marginalized were quickly warmed by the bottoms of the greedy,” de Lima said, referring to the entry of prominent political and business names as party-list representatives. De Lima said the bill seeks to put a stop to the growing abuses of the party-list system law by clearly defining the term “bona fide member” of a party to ensure those who really belong to the marginalized sectors will act as their representatives. The measure also seeks to ensure that a party-list group would be disqualified from participating in the election if all of its nominees become unable to assume their post as party-list representative after the campaign period begins. “This bill further gives the power to the party rather than the nominee by giving the party the opportunity to replace their representative during their term,” said de Lima. The measure also seeks to prevent political dynasties from abusing the party-list system. Once passed into law, it will prohibit any person from being nominated as party-list representative if he/she is related by affinity or consanguinity within the third degree to an incumbent elected official. The senator said this includes mayor, vice-mayor, governor, vice-governor, district representative, party-list representative, senator, vice president, and the president. “With this bill, we will give back the gift to the people, and we will give life to social justice as envisioned by our forefathers whose noble intentions should be the fertile grounds on which we plant the seeds of hope,” de Lima said.