Comelec supports move to amend party-list law

Comelec chairperson George Garcia (File photo)

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is supporting the move of Senator Vicente Sotto III to amend the country's 30-year-old party-list law.

In an interview on Monday, Comelec chairperson George Garcia believed that it is high time for Republic Act 7941, known as the Party-List System Act signed in 1995, to be revisited.

"This clarification and change are timely and long been awaited. We strongly support this bill," he said, referring to the Senate Bill 192 filed by Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III.

The poll body chief added that they are ready to assist and provide inputs if their expertise is asked.

"We have prepared recommendations," Garcia added, but did not provide further details.

A poll watchdog group also welcomed Sotto's bill.

"Kontra Daya welcomes all initiatives to amend the 1995 party-list law that would ensure genuine representation of the marginalized and underrepresented, free from the hijacking and bastardization of the rich and powerful," Danilo Arao, Kontra Daya convenor, said in a separate interview.

"We encourage Sotto and other 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," he added.

Asked if they are ready to help, the Kontra Daya official said they are "ready to provide input and answer any queries from legislators like Sotto."

The bill seeks to realign the party-list system with its original intent, for it to be truly represented the marginalized and the underrepresented. (PNA)

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