February 16, 2025
At the onset of the partylist groups’ participation in the Philippine politics and elections, all partylist groups are members of marginalized sector. They were very few that even if they join together their voice and position on a particular issue could hardly be heard or recognized. But I think they were real non-conformist.
When the ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of Atong Paglaum, Inc., represented by its President, Mr. Alan Igot, Petitioner, vs. Commission on Elections, Respondent G.R. No. 203766, April 02, 2013 was promulgated, the partylist system became a free for all enterprise that was opened to all. Now, the partylist system has been flooded by politicians who belong to the powerful and wealthy families. Some belong to political clans that dominate the geographical district representations, and some are members of prominent and powerful business families. The system became a haven for politicians whose occupation of their respective positions has been cut by term limitations set by the constitution or the law. The system is likewise being used to expand the number of family members occupying a political position at particular period or term. They are already dominant political clans, and they keep on expanding like a flourishing business. Party-list congressmen today dominate the halls of congress. Some are holding powerful committees, like the committee on appropriations which is chaired by partylist representative who is a prominent businessman and strong ally of the administration. Almost all of them are allied to the administration. I hope people will realize that the partylist representations belong to the groups who have real and truthful advocacies for the people.
Following is the portion of the decision in the case of Atong Pag Laom that confirms that partylist system is not limited to the marginalized sectors of the society.
“Under the partylist system, an ideology-based or cause-oriented political party is clearly different from a sectoral party. A political party need not be organized as a sectoral party and need not represent any particular sector. There is no requirement in R.A. No. 7941 that a national or regional political party must represent a “marginalized and underrepresented” sector.It is sufficient that the political party consists of citizens who advocate the same ideology or platform, or the same governance principles and policies, regardless of their economic status as citizens.
“Section 5 of R.A. No. 7941 states that “the sectors shall include labor, peasant, fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, elderly, handicapped, women, youth, veterans, overseas workers, and professionals.” The sectors mentioned in Section 5 are not all necessarily “marginalized and underrepresented.” For sure, “professionals” are not by definition “marginalized and underrepresented,” not even the elderly, women, and the youth. However, professionals, the elderly, women, and the youth may “lack well-defined political constituencies,” and can thus organize themselves into sectoral parties in advocacy of the special interests and concerns of their respective sectors.”
Unfortunately to the Filipino people, this system is being used by some to satisfy their cravings for supremacy and authority. The Supreme Court has spoken, the partylist system is not limited to the marginalized sector, but I am certain the Supreme Court did not mean to sanction the current practice of some powerful and privileged individuals of using the system to feed their insatiable greed for power and dominance.
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