17 November 2009
PRESS RELEASE
Reference: Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson
Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer
Comelec, repressing the rights of marginalized sectors - Migrante
With four days left before the start of the period of filing of manifestations of intent to participate in the 2010 party-list elections, a sectoral party of overseas Filipinos and their families has castigated the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for its “conscious effort to marginalize the already marginalized sectors in our society.”
“There seems to be a conscious and orchestrated effort from the ruling regime - through the COMELEC - to deny genuine organizations such as Migrante Sectoral Party (MSP), their right for representation in Congress,” said Connie Bragas-Regalado, MSP Chairperson.
Regalado noted that the COMELEC appears to be more concerned in keeping the 2010 ballot as short as possible rather than its duty to empower marginalized sectors through the Partylist law. “One need only read their unfounded, downright illegal and outrageous resolutions lately to realize how the COMELEC is so bent on turning away as many organizations as it can for the 2010 elections. And, quite unsurprisingly, those who are highly critical of the regime such as Migrante was the first ones to get the boot from the COMELEC,” she said.
Recently, the COMELEC has removed Migrante from the list of qualified contenders for the 2010 partylist elections. The move from the poll body was widely criticized by Migrante as well as various OFW groups worldwide saying that the COMELEC denied the group their day in court. “The gravity of this COMELEC decision delisting Migrante can not be over emphasized,” said Regalado.
“Not only did the COMELEC denied Migrante its right to due process; it has, in essence, deprived the over ten million overseas Filipinos and their families of their much deserved right to genuine sectoral representation,” she said.
Regalado said her group is gearing up to challenge the COMELEC ruling by elevating their case to the Supreme Court. Protest actions against Migrante’s deletion are also heating up inside and outside the country.
Just last week, the COMELEC stirred up a hornets nest for throwing out the petition for accreditation of gay group, Ang Ladlad Partylist. Citing verses from the Bible and the Koran, the COMELEC said Ang Ladlad’s “petition must fail” because the group is allegedly “advocating immoral doctrines” and in order to “protect the youth from moral and spiritual degradation.”
The COMELEC also denied Samahang Magdalo’s petition for accreditation as Political Party saying that their leaders and members remain “unrepentant" and still “harbor the propensity to engage in another illegal adventure" similar to the so-called Oakwood mutiny.###
PRESS RELEASE
Reference: Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson
Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer
Comelec, repressing the rights of marginalized sectors - Migrante
With four days left before the start of the period of filing of manifestations of intent to participate in the 2010 party-list elections, a sectoral party of overseas Filipinos and their families has castigated the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for its “conscious effort to marginalize the already marginalized sectors in our society.”
“There seems to be a conscious and orchestrated effort from the ruling regime - through the COMELEC - to deny genuine organizations such as Migrante Sectoral Party (MSP), their right for representation in Congress,” said Connie Bragas-Regalado, MSP Chairperson.
Regalado noted that the COMELEC appears to be more concerned in keeping the 2010 ballot as short as possible rather than its duty to empower marginalized sectors through the Partylist law. “One need only read their unfounded, downright illegal and outrageous resolutions lately to realize how the COMELEC is so bent on turning away as many organizations as it can for the 2010 elections. And, quite unsurprisingly, those who are highly critical of the regime such as Migrante was the first ones to get the boot from the COMELEC,” she said.
Recently, the COMELEC has removed Migrante from the list of qualified contenders for the 2010 partylist elections. The move from the poll body was widely criticized by Migrante as well as various OFW groups worldwide saying that the COMELEC denied the group their day in court. “The gravity of this COMELEC decision delisting Migrante can not be over emphasized,” said Regalado.
“Not only did the COMELEC denied Migrante its right to due process; it has, in essence, deprived the over ten million overseas Filipinos and their families of their much deserved right to genuine sectoral representation,” she said.
Regalado said her group is gearing up to challenge the COMELEC ruling by elevating their case to the Supreme Court. Protest actions against Migrante’s deletion are also heating up inside and outside the country.
Just last week, the COMELEC stirred up a hornets nest for throwing out the petition for accreditation of gay group, Ang Ladlad Partylist. Citing verses from the Bible and the Koran, the COMELEC said Ang Ladlad’s “petition must fail” because the group is allegedly “advocating immoral doctrines” and in order to “protect the youth from moral and spiritual degradation.”
The COMELEC also denied Samahang Magdalo’s petition for accreditation as Political Party saying that their leaders and members remain “unrepentant" and still “harbor the propensity to engage in another illegal adventure" similar to the so-called Oakwood mutiny.###
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