Millionaires, Allies of GMA, Lead Nominees of Dubious Party-list Groups

By Anne Marxze D. Umil
Bulatlat.com

Many party-list groups that have successfully made it to Comelec’s accredited list have questionable nominees and strong links to Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said election watchdog Kontra Daya (Against Cheating) and Kabataan (Youth) Party-list. For nominees, these party-list groups teem with millionaires, former government officials, former police and military officials, even incumbent government officials. Many are proven allies of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In fact, based on the investigation of Kontra Daya, some are members of her family, and they include a son and various close relatives.

Legitimate party-list groups representing genuinely marginalized sectors and featuring nominees who have either been long-time members or advocates of these sectors, for instance Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela Women’s Party, and the Makabayan senatorial bets Lisa Maza and Satur Ocampo, have all filed a petition to disqualify the dubious party-list groups. They began last month with Ang Galing Pinoy (AGP) party-list, the so-called party-list group being represented by presidential son and outgoing Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo.

In pushing for the disqualification of the dubious party-list groups, the legitimate party-list groups and Kontra Daya cited the Party-list System Act, which provides that a party-list should be represented by those who belong to the marginalized and under-represented sectors. They also cited the rules on disqualification cases against nominees of party list groups, or Resolution No. 8807. Its Section 6 stated that party-list nominee must be “one who belongs to the marginalized and underrepresented sector/s, the sectoral party, organization, political party or coalition he seeks to represent…”
As of April 6, 2010, Kontra Daya has pinpointed at least 49 dubious party-list groups in the Comelec list. These party-list groups, they said, have questionable nominees, or nominees who are obviously not from any truly marginalized groups. Kontra Daya intends to submit the following list of dubious party-list groups to the Comelec for disqualification.

Party-list groups of the Rich, Connected and Powerful

1. 1st Kabagis Party-list – an Ilocano party-list group that claims to advocate for “widening the segments of economic development.” Jose Singson, Jr., brother of National Security Adviser Chavit Singson, is its second nominee.

2. 1 United Transportation Koalisyon (1-Utak) – a party-list group purportedly representing the transport sector, but its first nominee, former Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, has been the drivers’ nemesis in the past few years; he is the “spokesperson” of the oil cartel in justifying the overpricing of oil products , according to Piston (United Association of Drivers and Operators). Its second nominee is former Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) official Vigor Mendoza. Its third nominee is Homero Mercado, owner of the bus company HM Transport.

3. Aangat Tayo – a party-list group led by Teddie Elson Rivera, an official of the state-owned Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC). The group claims to represent labor, urban poor, elderly, women, youth, and the overseas workers. Its nominees include Rep. Daryl Grace Abayon, wife of Rep. Harlin Castillo Abayon (Lakas) of Northern Samar.

4. Abante Tribung Makabansa (ATM) – a party-list group that claims to represent the indigenous peoples and was endorsed by presidential adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dureza. Its first nominee is former Army Col. Allen A. Capuyan who was among those implicated by former T/Sgt. Vidal Doble in the “Hello Garci” controversy. According to Doble, Capuyan was among those who implemented “Project Lighthouse” or the wiretapping of personalities during his stint as head of the Intelligence Service of the AFP’s ‘special operations group.’ ATM’s second nominee, Reuben Dasay A. Lingating, is a former official of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). He is also a program officer of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

5. Abono Partylist – a party-list group that claims to represent the agricultural sector. The Abono party-list’s first two nominees are Robert Raymund Estrella and Franciso Ortega III. Both hail from the prominent Estrella and Ortega political clans, which are allied with the administration. Its third nominee is Jacky Rowena Lomibao, wife of former PNP chief Arturo Lomibao.

6. Abot Tanaw – its first nominee is Gerwyn See, husband of Sheryl Genuino-See, daughter of PAGCOR chairman Efraim Genuino. Sheryl See is also a nominee of Batang Iwas sa Droga Foundation, Inc. or BIDA party-list. The couple also own the Philippine master franchise of Mrs. Fields Cookie Cafe chain.

Its second nominee is Mario Cornista, a PAGCOR consultant. In their SEC registration, he is also named as chair of the board of directors of BIDA. Its third nominee, Tomas Toledo, is another PAGCOR consultant. Both BIDA and Abot Tanaw are thus closely associated with PAGCOR chairman Efraim Genuino.

7. Action Brotherhood for Active Dreamers, Inc. (ABROAD Partylist) – a party-list group that claims to support a speedier process for Filipinos seeking work abroad and combating illegal recruitment. Its first two nominees are Danilo Magsino Dy and Angela C. Dy. Danilo Dy owns the Montessori Professional College.

8. Agila ng Katutubong Pilipino, Inc. (AGILA) – a Baguio-based party-list group that claims to represent indigenous peoples. Its nominees include DILG undersecretary and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems administrator Orlando Hondrade, as well as former Quezon City councilor Restituto Malañgen.