Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa has filed a measure that would allow the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disqualify or refuse the application of a party-list group that participates in attemtps to overthrow the government or is connected to the rebels.
In filing Senate Bill (SB) 201, Dela Rosa aims to add more grounds for the Comelec to cancel the registration of a party-list group.
On top of the existing grounds stated under the Republic Act (RA) No. 7941 or the Party-list System Act, the Comelec may also disqualify a group if "it seeks the participation of children, youth and members of other disadvantaged sectors in committing violent and unlawful acts", the measure said.
Further, the poll body may choose to disqualify if the party-list group "directly or indirectly participates in acts detrimental to the best interest of the government, to overthrow the government or diminish its powers, or to be associated by any means to rebels or proscribed terrorist persons or groups under Republic Act No. 11479" or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Dela Rosa filed the measure even as he lamented that while the party-list system has noble purpose, "it has become a tool for abuse and exploitation" instead of "providing effective and representative governance for the greater welfare" of the people.
"Regardless of their political ideology, partylist groups should effectively participate in the law-making process in the legislative branch of our government," Dela Rosa said in the explanatory note of his bill.
"However, there is a grave concern if the partylist group's main agenda is to infiltrate government with revolutionary principles that capitalize on violence and dissent among the people," he added, as he called on his fellow lawmakers to "finally put an end to the exploitation" of the party-list system.