THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday welcomed the filing of a Senate bill looking to amend the Party-List System Act of 1995, saying it is a legislation they have long sought.
In a phone interview, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said they are looking forward to the passage of the proposed law filed by Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
“These amendments are timely and long overdue. We strongly support this bill,” said Garcia.
The poll chief said they have long advocated for reforms in the party-list system, and are ready to help in crafting the law.
“We have our recommendations ready,” said Garcia.
Poll watchdog Kontra Daya also welcomed the move of Sotto, saying they are looking forward to his bid to bring back the system to its original intent under the 1987 Constitution.
Kontra Daya Convenor Danilo Arao said they also want the party-list system returned to the marginalized and the underrepresented sectors.
“Kontra Daya welcomes all initiatives to amend the 1995 Party-List Law that would ensure genuine representation of the marginalized and underrepresented, and free from the hijacking and bastardization of the rich and powerful,” said Arao.
He said they have long criticized the current party-list system, as seen in their research and statements in several electoral exercises.
“We encourage legislators to refer not just to our past statements but also to our past data sets on the party-list groups that participated in the previous election cycles. Our research provides empirical proof of how the rich and powerful have reduced the party-list system as mere additional seats that are theirs for the taking,” said Arao.
Sotto had filed Senate Bill 192, which seeks to amend the Party-List System Act of 1995.
Sotto noted that the current party-list system has deviated from the intent of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, which is to represent the marginalized and the underrepresented sectors.
