Anakbayan wants Akbayan, B&W disqualified as partylists

MILITANT Anakbayan group yesterday welcomed the disqualification of Ako Bicol and 12 other non-marginalized partylists.
“Ako Bicol’s representatives are big businessmen and influential families, clearly not marginalized and underrepresented,” Anakbayan said in a statement, adding that it is an injustice to allow them to continue holding seats in Congress to continue “representing the marginalized.”
Vencer Crisostomo, national chairperson of Anakbayan said, “We are hoping that the Comelec’s campaign to ‘cleanse’ the party-list system will include Malacanang-backed party-lists like Akbayan and Black and White movement.
“We challenge Brilliantes to prove Comelec’s independence from the Palace by removing these groups from the list of accredited of partylists, Cristomo said, adding Comelec should not shield them from the process which gives them undue advantage in the polls.
“It is a big joke to allow Akbayan to represent to hee marginalized and underrepresented when its leaders, members and current set of nominees are holding key government positions, including cabinet-level appointments, making them well-entrenched in government and giving them awesome powers and access to vast government resources,” he said.