Political Dynasties, MAHIGPIT NA IPAGBABAWAL SA PARTY-LIST SYSTEM – Kiko

Ni Ernie Reyes

Mahigpit na itatakda sa Party-List Reform Bills na ipagbawal ang sinumang political dynasties na maging kinatawan ng alinmang sektor o Partido upang tuluyan nang malinis ang sistema na sinasamantala ng pulitiko, ayon kay Senador Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.

Sa pahayag, sinabi ni Pangilinan na ilalagay nito ang isang probisyon sa Senate Bill No. 1907 na mahigpit na ipagbawal ang miyembro ng political dynasties na maging o humalili bilang kinatawan o nominee ng party-list system.

Layunin ng SB 1907 na inihain nitong Pebrero 26 na patingkadin ang Republic Act (RA) No. 7941, o mas kilala bilang Party-List System Act. “A significant proposal in the bill is provided in Section 7, which amends Section 9 of RA No. 7941, and introduces Subsections 9-A, 9-B, and 9-C.”

Ayon kay Pangilinan: “The proposed new sections to the amended sections, “No person may become or substitute for a party-list nominee or otherwise become a party-list representative” if they are a spouse or relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity of an incumbent president, vice president, senator, district or party-list representative, governor, vice governor, mayor, or vice mayor. The spouse or relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity of a nominee of any party-list organization in the same election shall also be included in the prohibition,” aniya.

Mahigpit din ipagbabawal sa bagong batas na sumawsaw ang sinumang party-list nominee o representatives o party-list organization na direkta man o hindi sa pagkuha ng kontrata  o sub-contracts upang magsuplayn sa gobyerno o alinmang ahensiya ng pamahalaan ng produkto, serbisyo, konstruksiyon o anumang gawain.

“Furthermore, nominees or representative and their spouse or relative within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity cannot serve as a partner, director, officer, member, or stockholder of any corporation or partnership that holds such contracts,” ayon kay Pangilinan.

Sa ilalim ng panukalang amendments, sinabi ni Pangilinan na “the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) may motu propio or upon verified petition, remove or disqualify the party-list nominee on the ground that they do not possess any of the qualifications of a party-list nominee or that they possess any of the prohibitions.”

Kahit kinikilala ni Pangilinan ang papel ng party-list system sa proportional representation, binanggit din nito ang pangangailangan ng “legislative clarification” sa implementasyon ng batas partikular ang pamantayan ng sectoral representation safeguard laban sa conflict of interest, voter clarity at accountability mechanisms.

“The proposal “strengthens the statutory framework of the party-list system to align its implementation with its constitutional purpose of sectoral representation,”