By Charissa Luci-Atienza
A partylist lawmaker asked on Friday Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon to be mindful of a 2013 Supreme Court (SC) ruling, which allowed political parties and groups not representing marginalized and unrepresented sectors to join the party-list poll.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
AKO BICOL Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., a lawyer, said Commissioner Rowena Guanzon should always be guided by the SC ruling in making comments.
“Commissioner Guanzon, being a lawyer, must abide by it (ruling) because all SC decisions form part of the law of the Land. She should focus more on the strict implementation of RA No. 7941 or the Party-List Law,” she said after Guanzon batted for the passage of an anti-dynasty law and sought amendment to Republic Act (RA) No. 7941 or the Party-List Law to prevent a “family affair” in public office.
“As correctly put by the SC which does not require nominees of Party List to belong to the marginalized as the same was the real intent of the framers of the 1987 Constitution,” Garbin added.
AKO BICOL party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe, president of the Party List Coalition (PLC), said it is the people who have the final say on the issue of “family affair” during elections.
“Let these observations be an election issue and submit the same to our electorate,” he said.
The decision of resigned Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and his wife, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano to vie for congressional seats in Taguig has been criticized. But, the former senator maintained there is nothing wrong with their decision, even citing the case Isabela Rep. Rodolfo “Rodito” Albano III and his wife, Deputy Speaker and Davao City Rep. Mylene Garcia-Albano, who currently serve under present 17th Congress.
The family members of President Duterte were also criticized for seeking elective posts.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio sought reelection, while her brother, former Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte aims to serve as the representative of the Davao City's first district.
Duterte-Carpio’s youngest brother, Sebastian Duterte decided to join the vice mayoralty race.