Click party-list strongly supported the findings of Kontra Daya that more than half of the party-list groups seeking seats in the upcoming May elections do not genuinely represent marginalized and underrepresented sectors.
“We stand firmly with Kontra Daya in its advocacy to restore the integrity of the party-list system and to ensure that it serves its true purpose—empowering the voiceless and uplifting the underserved communities,” the group said.
“As a party-list dedicated to advancing emerging technology, innovation, and digital literacy, Click is committed to the authentic representation of the underrepresented sectors. We recognize the importance of ensuring that the party-list system remains a platform for genuine public service and not a vehicle for political dynasties, big businesses, or self-serving interests,” it added.
On Wednesday, election watchdog Kontra Daya revealed that 55.13 percent, or 85 of the 156 party-list groups seeking seats in the House of Representatives, do not represent the poor or underrepresented sectors.
According to Kontra Daya, 40 party-list groups have ties to political clans, 25 to large businesses, and 18 to the police or military, while seven have corruption cases and eleven have questionable advocacies.
Nine party-list groups also provided limited information in the forms they submitted to the Commission on Elections, Kontra Daya said.
“We echo Kontra Daya’s call for stricter measures in accrediting party list groups to prevent the continued hijacking of the system by political and economic elites. In line with this, we also support proposed legislative reforms to amend Republic Act No. 7941 or the Party-List System Act, to strengthen eligibility requirements and uphold the system’s integrity,” Click said.
In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that sectoral parties or organizations seeking accreditation under the party-list system may be either “marginalized and underrepresented” or lacking in “well-defined political constituencies.”
The nominees of sectoral parties or organizations that represent either the “marginalized and underrepresented” or those who lack “well-defined political constituencies”must either belong to their respective sectors or have a track record of advocacy for these sectors, the SC said.