Time to amend party-list, election laws – Comelec

Noting limitations on their powers, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia yesterday reiterated the need to amend election laws, including the Party-List System Act and the Omnibus Election Code.

- Janvic Mateo, Mayen Jaymalin, Elizabeth Marcelo

In an interview with "Storycon" on One News, Garcia noted the numerous Supreme Court (SC) decisions that – in some cases – limit the extent of what the poll body can do to manage elections.

For instance, he cited a previous SC ruling that opened the party-list system to different kinds of groups other than those representing the marginalized and underrepresented sectors.

"The easiest way (to address the issue) is to overhaul the law," he said in Filipino.

"If you will ask me, the simplest thing that we can do is to define, enumerate the different sectors that should be properly represented (under the party-list system)," he added.

Garcia noted that the 1987 Constitution already identified some of the sectors that should be represented in Congress, including labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women and youth. But after the transition period, the Comelec chief said it became “free for all.”

“We have to ensure that all sectors are properly represented by the genuine people who really belong to the sectors,” he added.

While the proposed amendments to the party-list system are still pending in Congress, Garcia expressed hope that the SC would be able to further clarify some of the issues, such as the eligibility of those who can be party-list nominees.

He also urged voters to file petitions in case they see nominees who do not truly represent their party-list organization.

The Comelec will publish all certificates of candidacy (COC) and certificates of nomination and acceptance (CONA) of those who intend to run in next year’s midterm elections on their website to give voters an opportunity to assess the candidates.