Review of party-list law sought amid Mikey issue

by | Jul 22, 2010 | Headlines, National News

LAWMAKERS on Wednesday called for a review of the party-list system law following the controversial Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision allowing former Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo to represent security guards and tricycle drivers in Congress.

Marikina Rep. Romero Federico Quimbo said Arroyo’s victory, at the very least, “is a clarion call for Congress to review the party-list law to ensure that the spirit of the law is indeed served and not circumvented.”

Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla and San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito agreed to this.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said the Comelec decision will only legalize the entry of multi-millionaires into the party-list system, as no genuine party-list group can compete with the powerful organizations in elections.

Arroyo, who survived disqualification cases filed against him, will sit as representative of Ang Galing Pinoy (AGP).

With his re-entry to the House of Representatives, there will now be four Arroyos in Congress: his mother former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, brother Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado ‘Dato’ Arroyo, and uncle Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo. (PIA-Bohol)

Group wants Comelec execs to resign over party-list decision

by | Jul 22, 2010 | Headlines, National News

MILITANT group Bayan has called for the resignation of Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials after allowing former Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo to sit as representative of the Ang Galing Pinoy party-list.

“These commissioners cannot be trusted to carry out their mandate of ensuring that the laws related to the elections are correctly upheld. They appear incapable of understanding the law. They have lost the trust of the electorate. They must resign,” Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said.

The Comelec commissioners who allowed Mikey to represent AGP were: Nicodemo Ferrer, Lucenito Tagle, Armando Velasco and Elias Yusoph. Those who dissented were Commissioners Rene Sarmiento and Gregorio Larrazabal.

The Comelec en banc earlier allowed Arroyo to sit as Ang Galing Pinoy representative as it junked the petition of several groups questioning the legality of the former Pampanga congressman to be a nominee of the party-list.

Reyes also urged the Aquino administration to block Arroyo from sitting as a party-list representative when the 15th Congress opens on July 26. (PIA-Bohol)