Bayan Muna Party-list calls on COMELEC to prove its mettle, disqualify Mikey Arroyo and be strict about the party-list law

Bayan Muna Party-list calls on COMELEC to prove its mettle,
disqualify Mikey Arroyo and be strict about the party-list law

Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño today said, "Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo should be disqualified as a nominee of Ang Galing Pinoy Party-list (AGP)." "Arroyo's bid as a party-list representative wantonly violates the integrity of the party-list system," said Casiño.

Casiño enumerated obvious reasons why Arroyo should be disqualified. "Rep. Mikey Arroyo is no way a member of, nor does he belong to, any marginalized or underrepresented sector. In fact, he is super-rich and mega-powerful. He is an incumbent congressional district representative, a former vice governor, and a son of the President, the most powerful official in the land. He has four relatives running for Congress: His mother Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, brother Dato Arroyo, uncle Iggy Arroyo and aunt Marilou Arroyo. He is a member of the ruling party coalition Lakas-Kampi-CMD. He could not have been a member of AGP for 90 days as required by law. Mikey is not a security guard, a tricycle driver, nor is he an advocate of such sectors. In fact, he is a multi-millionaire as attested by his 2008 statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) totaling P99.2 million," said Casiño.

Atty. Joven Laura, 3rd nominee of Bayan Muna Party-list, emphasized that "the party-list system was introduced in our Constitution as a social justice vehicle by which the marginalized and the underrepresented will have representation in Congress. To allow the President’s son to become a party-list nominee is to blatantly disregard what has been admonished by the Supreme Court “This Court, therefore, cannot allow the party-list system to be sullied and prostituted by those who are neither marginalized nor underrepresented," exclaimed Laura.

Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares challenged the Comelec to be strict about the party-list law, not to keep a blind eye, nor fear disfavor from Malacañang. They must disqualify Mikey Arroyo or risk committing impeachable offenses-- that of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust," warned Colmenares.

Casiño, Laura and Colmenares also called on the Comelec to disqualify bogus party-lists and all undeserving nominees.

The Bayan Muna leaders once again appealed to the public to support party-lists that genuinely represent the interests of the farmers, workers, women, youth and the impoverished. ###