Bayan Muna submits Comelec Resolution 8807 requirements,
readies disqualification charges against 'fake' party-lists
readies disqualification charges against 'fake' party-lists
Bayan Muna Party-list nominees led by Rep. Teddy Casiño, Rep. Neri Colmenares and Atty. Joven Laura, submitted to Comelec today their legislative accomplishments and other documentary evidences to show their track records as representatives and advocates of the marginalized and underrepresented sectors.
Recently in Congress, Bayan Muna Representatives authored or co-authored pro-people laws, bills and resolutions such as: Rent Control Act of 2009 (R.A. 9653), Public Attorneys Act of 2007 (R.A. 9406), Tax Relief Act of 2009 (R.A. 9504), P125 Across the Board Wage Increase and P3,000 per month Salary Hike, Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill, 50% Hospital Discount for Indigents, Whistleblower Protection and Awards (H.B. 1715), Regulation of the Oil Industry (H.B. 3029 and 3030), Regulation of Tuition and Other School Fees (H.B. 1274), Student Benefits and Entitlements (H.B. 2441), Buy Filipino, Build Filipino Policy, Inquiry into the NBN-ZTE and Cyber Ed programs (H.R. 221), and Inquiry on the Euro Generals Scandal (H.R. 843).
"The Bayan Muna nominees' personal profiles contrast sharply against those of 'bogus' party-lists', said Colmenares.
According to Colmenares, Rep. Casiño served the youth sector as president of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines in the early 1990s before joining the Kilusang Mayo Uno and becoming elected as Secretary General of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), the country's biggest alliance of organizations of marginalized and underrepresented sectors in Philippine society. He is part of the labor sector because he was a member of KMU in the 1990s.
Human rights lawyer Rep. Colmenares was a student activist and became a political detainee during martial law for his advocacies on student rights and welfare. He provided pro bono legal services to the marginalized sectors such as the workers, urban poor and political prisoners in various cases.
Atty. Laura came from the peasant class, worked his way to finish schooling and was also a member of the League of Filipino Students. He started out as a journalist in Sorsogon before becoming a people's lawyer. He is also a consistent advocate of human rights and of the democratic aspirations of Filipinos.
"On the other hand, the bogus party-lists and their nominees that Bayan Muna intends to disqualify all represent the super-rich and mega-powerful, and are backed by Pres. Arroyo to help her extend her reign in Congress. We are set to file our petitions for their disqualification," Colmenares said. "The Supreme Court has clearly declared that the nominee must be a member of the sector he represents, that the urban poor cannot be represented by industrialists and the youth cannot be represented by the retirees. The pseudo party-list groups represent not only the rich and powerful but also Pres. Arroyo. The public must not allow them to sit in Congress,” he added.
"Bayan Muna, a multi-sectoral party-list organization representing the workers, peasants, women, indigenous peoples, professionals, urban poor, and youth, consistently topped the past three national elections. In spite of numerous obstacles, our party-list served only the people's interests, with three Representatives in the 12th to 14th Congress. We vow to continue spearheading the fight for the marginalized sectors in the 15th Congress," concluded Colmenares. ###
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