“We must expose lawmakers whose votes and committee roles intersect with their sectors — be it education, media, infrastructure, or religion“
THE catbird seat on lawmakers who double as contractors is well-justified but far from adequate.
While construction contracts draw intense public emotion, many legislators also benefit from other business interests that slip through the fissures of passionate public scrutiny.
Not surprising to find the party-list system has helped these business interests get their political shuffle into Congress.
Election watchdog Kontra Daya’s report after the May 2025 mid-term elections showed that of 54 proclaimed winners, nine were previously flagged for connections with big business.
Kontra Daya, a broad campaign of organizations and individuals — religious, artists, youth and students, lawyers, IT experts, teachers, government employees and ordinary Filipinos — commits itself to oppose election fraud and other undemocratic practices during the election period.
Kontra Daya named the nine:
1Tahanan — Second nominee is Gerard Joseph D. Aliño, President of Aliño Construction Corporation. Third nominee is Raul S. del Prado, the Visayas Area Manager for Brigada News FM.
Fourth nominee is Elmer V. Catulpos, who owns Brigada News Philippines and the husband of the sixth nominee, Yelcy Y. Catulpos; fifth nominee is Ymeir Shann Y. Catulpos, president of Brigada Pharmacy, Inc. and the son of the fourth and sixth nominees. The rest of the nominees from seventh to 10th are all involved in Brigada Mass Media Corporation.
Agimat — First nominee is Bryan B. Revilla, of the Revilla political clan. Second nominee is Samantha Alexandra A. Panlilio, who served as chief operating officer for a company that owns hotels and resorts. Daughter of businessman Jose Marcel Panlilio, who owns Boulevard Holdings, Inc. and Puerto Azul Land, Inc. Francis R. Alita (fifth nominee), Marcelina A. Salcedo (sixth nominee), and Manuel G. Lopez (10th nominee), are listed as having businesses but Kontra Daya found no other information on them.
Ako Bicol — First nominee Elizaldy S. Co is the Chairman and CEO of Sunwest Group Holding Company and President of Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation. Third to seventh nominees are all affiliated with the law firm Chan Robles & Associates.
Bagong Henerasyon — First nominee is Roberto Gerard L. Nazal, Jr., president of MRMJ Earth Movers Corporation, chairman of PERRC Construction and Development Corp., owner of Ysa Skin Care Corp., and founder of HealthWellnessLifestyle, Inc. Second nominee is Rodolfo E. Medina, founder and chairman of Medical Depot.
GP — First nominee is Jan Rurik G. Padiernos, director and vice-president of Pacific Union Insurance Company. Third nominee is Jose Gay G. Padiernos, member of the Board of Directors of the said company. Sixth nominee is Jan Adrian D. Padiernos, chief operating officer and corporate secretary of the insurance company. Two other nominees are listed as having businesses but with no other information given.
Kamalayan — First nominee Caroline L. Tanchay, chairman, president, and CEO of Oriental Peninsula Resource Group, Inc., president of Citimax Group, Inc. and Maxwell Heavy Equipment Corp., chairman of Citinickel Mines and Development Corp., and director of Moreland Realty Corp. Second and tenth nominees are listed as having businesses, but with no other information given.
Nanay — First nominee Florable Co Yatco owns the Florabel Group of Restaurants. Third nominee Christopher George P. Yatco is the husband of the first nominee. Fifth nominee Rosette Marie S. Bendicion owns SJS Sleepwear. Sixth nominee Andrew S. Bendicion is listed as a businessman and the husband of the fifth nominee.
One Coop — Second nominee Rodulfo D. Hilot, Jr. is president of Rudhil Construction & Enterprises, Inc. 10th nominee Lily Ruth T. Panugan is listed as a businesswoman.
TGP — Second nominee Aaron Carlo D. Cabrera is CEO and president of Teravera Corporation. 10th nominee Danilo B. Mangahas is CEO of EuroTV Philippines. The fifth and eighth nominees are listed as businessmen without any other information given.
While not all of these represent businesses that may have direct dealings with government, these party-lists have a voice in shaping policy which may indirectly benefit these businesses.
The party-list system’s vulnerability is particularly dangerous: the nominee on paper may not be the actual power behind the seat. Financial backers can orchestrate influence from the shadows.
If Congress truly seeks to purge conflicts of interest, the investigation must go deeper than those with construction contracts.
We must expose lawmakers whose votes and committee roles intersect with their sectors — be it education, media, infrastructure, or religion.
This is especially true for party-lists, where the public face may conceal the real decision-makers.
Selective outrage only perpetuates the very corruption it pretends to fight.
