Party list scramble

A controversy has arisen between the Kilusang Mayo Uno and the Abang Lingkod (whatever this means) Party List with the former calling for the disqualification of the latter. The KMU, well-known for its militancy is denouncing the Abang Lingkod which is the party list organization of its rival, RPA-ABB.

They were erstwhile allies with the KMU suspected of being the legal front of the New People’s Army which is at mortal odds with the RPA. The RPA is a break-away comrade of the NPA in an armed revolt.

The RPA has now been tagged as tools of the military. Although denied the RPA frequently consorts with military officials.

Now they are at each other’s neck and rightly the KMU is opposing anything that will give the RPA additional advantage.

The National Bureau of Investigation has also dubbed the RPA as guns for hire and in fact, the NBI is at present at odds with the RPA in the murder of RTC Judge Henry Arles.

The opposition of the KMU against the RPA is not an isolated one. In truth there is a scramble among the party list political groups as the Commission on Election continues its work in weeding out the fake ones, fake in the sense that the people who are to represent the group are not truly representative of the group and some are even alien to the interest the group proposes to represent.

There had been question as to the wisdom of the party list, considering that this system does not fit into our system of government and the manner in which we choose our representatives in the Congress.

Theoretically, the Party List belongs to the parliamentary form and not to the republican form. Our is republican where we elect, not political parties and the interest or program of government, but individuals with the political party merely a mechanism for unified and coordinated campaign.

While our political parties stand for some kind of agenda, our choices during the elections are based on individual preference. We do not vote for a Liberal or a Nacionalista or a Nationalist People’s Coalition as parties, but for their candidate and our votes are not counted as that of the party but for the individual.

The Party List system we have adopted is unique in our attempt to have a parliamentary system of government, but while we tried it, the parliamentary system did not fit our temperament and culture, so we took the middle road – adopting the party list system as a pretension.

Our problem with the party list is that we do not know who we are voting for. The Party makes its own list of preference, from number one to number five. If it gets the minimum national vote of 250,000 then its number one in the list becomes congressman. It gets another one for every 250,000 but not exceeding five.

The number of votes is easy to get, given one’s money and influence, so that the party list of those in power can easily secure the number required.

Thus we have Bayan Muna and the militant, labor and professional groups getting the minimum number to get a seat in the House.

Now the RPA is a curious one. Their first choice is Karapali who is known as the national commander of the RPA and therefore it is understandable for him to be the first nominee. But the second nominee is a big surprise – incumbent Occidental Negros Sanggunian Panlalawigan member, Patrick Lacson.

What is the relationship of Lacson with the RPA that he ranks second to Karapali? Is Lacson a top-ranking RPA-ABB member?

Since when and how did he become a member, considering that he is not a dirt poor farmer but a member of the wealthy class of Negros?

It is important to know when he became a member because if he has been with the RPA ever since, then he was in the armed underground for so long.

Of course, he could be a recent recruit or follower and was given a high rank in the RPA, but has he declared this when he ran for public office?

He can be the first or second nominee, for all we care, but his being a member or a bedfellow of a former armed rebel in this province should give us pause for thought.

There are also reports of RPA involvement in some criminal activities within Lacson’s representative district. This is a matter of concern.

Anyone can be a member of any legal group engaged in helping the farmers or the government but considering the background of the RPA and that of Lacson and the recent pronouncements of the NBI against the RPA makes us wonder about this scramble for the party list.*

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