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

Their specific objectives have been to: “1) provide full support to several Comelec-accredited party-list groups that are ascertained to be pro-administration and ensure winning nine to twelve seats in the House of Representatives; 2) form a party-list bloc that will support the plans and programs of the administration and help in countering destabilization moves by the opposition as well as the left-leaning party-list groups; and, 3) contribute in the over-all campaign to substantially lower the number of votes of leftist and left-leaning party-list organizations and in the process reduce the seats of this anti-administration parties in the House of Representatives.”

Kabataan Partylist named the party-list groups included in the OEA memo that were accredited by the Comelec to run in the 2010 elections. These include Babae para sa Kaunlaran (Babae Ka or You’re a Woman), League of Youth for Peace and Advancement (LYPAD), Kalahi, Agbiag! Timpuyog Ilokano, Inc. (Agbiag), Abono, Kasangga and Aging Pinoy.

The Kabataan party-list also included other pro-administration party-list groups with already dubious linkages with the government. These included: 1Ganap/Guardian, A-Teacher, Abakada Guro (Abakada), Adhikain ng mga Dakilang Anak ng Maharlika (Adam), Aksyon Sambayanan (Aksa), Ang Laban ng Indigong Filipino (Alif), Association of the Philippine Electronic Cooperatives (Apec), Alliance for Rural Concerns (ARC), Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE), Barangay Association for National Advancement and Transparency (Banat), Bigkis Pinoy Movement (Bigkis), Butil Farmers Party-list (Butil), Cooperative Natcco Network Party (Coop-Natco), Kapatiran ng mga Nakakulong ng walang Sala (Kakusa), Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), Veteran’s Freedom Party (VFP) and Youth Against Corruption and Poverty (Yacap).

Adam’s first nominee is Energy Undersecreatry Zamzamin Ampatuan, nephew of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. who is implicated in Ampatuan Massacre. Aksa on the other hand, is National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales’s party-list, an organization of opportunist “yellow” labor leaders who frequently demonized the progressive party-list groups such as Bayan Muna, said a report from CENPEG (Center for People’s Empowerment in Governance). Aksa has likewise been regarded as a phony social democratic movement allegedly affiliated with Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP).

Banat, meanwhile, is a party-list group of the government’s Liga ng mga Barangay (Village League) and Sigaw ng Bayan (Nation’s Cry). Both are supporters of Arroyo’s Charter Change. Bigkis, on the other hand, is identified with PAGCOR chairman Efraim Genuino.

Coop-Natco was supported by the Department of Agriculture in the 2007 elections and initially by the president, too. Kakusa, another party-list group, has for its chairman emeritus the convicted child rapist and former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos. It is supported by the Lamb of God Foundation and by the outreach program for elderly inmates reported to be established by Jalosjos.

Yacap’s current nominee, Rep. Haron Omar, is the brother-in-law of Rey Sumalipao who is one of the election officials implicated in the “Hello Garci” controversy for padding the votes of the president in 2004. (Bulatlat.com)