EDITORIAL – Crackdown on mockery

THE MOST sensational political story of the week is decidedly the axing by the Commission on Elections of Ako Bicol and 12 other party-list groups, which means their disqualification from the balloting in May, 2013.
In a six-page ruling, the Comelec en banc decided that Ako Bicol, which topped the party-list groups in the 2010 elections, was after all not qualified because it does not represent a marginalized sector as contemplated in the party-list system.
The 12 other groups disqualified by the landmark Comelec resolution were 1-Aani, 1-Bro Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc/, 1-Guardians Nationalist of the Philippines Inc. (or 1Ganap/Guardians), First People’s Initiative for Indigent Student Athletes, A Blessed Party-list, Alliance for National Urban Poor Organizations Assembly Inc., Alliance for Rural Concerns, Association for Righteousness Advocacy on Leadership, Atong Paglaum, Organization of Regional Advocates for Good Governance Onward Nation-Building, United Movement Against Drug Foundation Inc. and Yes We Can.
Disregard the awkward if not outrageous sounding names of some of the party-lists. What should be minded are the names of some powerful people linked to the groups, names that represent anything but marginalized or underrepresented sectors. For instance, Senator Gringo Honasan is listed as the national chairman and president of 1-Bro Philippine Guardians Brotherhood. According to yesterday’s headline story of Philippine Daily Inquirer, the first nominee of Yes We Can is Maynard Lapid, a son of Senator Lito Lapid. Now, every Filipino and his uncle know that Rep. Mikey Arroyo, son of former President, now Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, represents Ang Galing Pinoy, a party-list of security guards!
It is said that some party-list groups were organized by regular political parties.
Certain people, politicians in power and those who can’t win elections, have been making a mockery of the party-list system.
Yes, some power-hungry people are capable of doing anything, short of pawning their souls to the devil, to borrow a wise-crack from street smarts.
Indeed, Comelec’s action of disqualifying them is a perfect move in the right direction.
No wonder the common reaction of Filipinos to yesterday’s news about the axing was “Why only them?  Comelec should axe more!”
And why not?