Political prosecution
drives de-listing – UNIFIL-HK
“Migrante is a thorn to the sides and a bramble in the hands of GMA. With its staunch stance against government policies on OFWs, Migrante has become the first progressive party-list victim of political prosecution by this administration prior to the 2010 polls.”
This was declared today by Dolores Balladares, chairperson of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE- HK) as members of the group held a protest action at the Philippine Consulate General (PCG-HK) to condemn the decision of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to de-list Migrante Sectoral Party (MSP) in the 2010 partylist race.
“For years, Migrante has exposed the neglect of the GMA government to OFWs in distress, failure to curb overcharging of recruitment agencies, billion-peso scandals in the OWWA and policies that sell out the Filipino migrants for modern-day slavery. With such a record, GMA will not allow Migrante a fair chance to be in the Congress,” she added.
Balladares said that COMELEC en banc Resolution No. 8679 that ordered the de-listing is irregular and highly-questionable. She added that it violates the party-list rules because of its flawed interpretation of the law and the faulty process the COMELEC followed with the decision. Moreover, she said that COMELEC Commissioner Melo’s appeal to Migrante before to help in the registration is a de facto recognition of the group.
“With the absence of a legal basis, we strongly believe that the de-listing is politically-motivated and the dirty hand of the government is behind it. Who’s deathly afraid of Migrante and the potential electoral influence of OFWs? Only those who have the most to lose in the 2010 polls like GMA and her camp,” she remarked.
Balladares relayed that the “disgust of OFWs against the GMA government” has been clear for the past years. In her foreign trips, GMA has been hounded by protest actions from OFW groups especially from Migrante and its affiliates.
“From Hong Kong, to the United States, Japan and even in Middle East countries, Migrante and other OFW organizations never let go of the chance to protest against anti-people and anti-OFW moves of GMA. If Migrante is even allowed an opening to possibly take part in law-making, there is no way for GMA’s policies to continue and for her to go scot-free from her crimes. Thus, GMA basks in the grave disenfranchisement of Filipino migrants first through the pathetic efforts in the registration period and now the de-listing of Migrante,” she said.
The COMELEC decision has been met by protests from Migrante members and allies in different countries. In Hong Kong, UNIFIL is soliciting the support of different organizations in a petition to have the resolution reversed.
Last Sunday, the group gathered almost 50 organizations for the petition letter that they will fax to member commissioners of the COMELEC. Balladares said that they will continue to solicit the support of other organizations “until the COMELEC makes right its disservice to Filipinos migrants.”
“Migrante should be allowed to run. GMA and her camp shall only further earn the ire of Filipinos abroad if this political harassment against Migrante persists,” she concluded. ###
“Migrante is a thorn to the sides and a bramble in the hands of GMA. With its staunch stance against government policies on OFWs, Migrante has become the first progressive party-list victim of political prosecution by this administration prior to the 2010 polls.”
This was declared today by Dolores Balladares, chairperson of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE- HK) as members of the group held a protest action at the Philippine Consulate General (PCG-HK) to condemn the decision of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to de-list Migrante Sectoral Party (MSP) in the 2010 partylist race.
“For years, Migrante has exposed the neglect of the GMA government to OFWs in distress, failure to curb overcharging of recruitment agencies, billion-peso scandals in the OWWA and policies that sell out the Filipino migrants for modern-day slavery. With such a record, GMA will not allow Migrante a fair chance to be in the Congress,” she added.
Balladares said that COMELEC en banc Resolution No. 8679 that ordered the de-listing is irregular and highly-questionable. She added that it violates the party-list rules because of its flawed interpretation of the law and the faulty process the COMELEC followed with the decision. Moreover, she said that COMELEC Commissioner Melo’s appeal to Migrante before to help in the registration is a de facto recognition of the group.
“With the absence of a legal basis, we strongly believe that the de-listing is politically-motivated and the dirty hand of the government is behind it. Who’s deathly afraid of Migrante and the potential electoral influence of OFWs? Only those who have the most to lose in the 2010 polls like GMA and her camp,” she remarked.
Balladares relayed that the “disgust of OFWs against the GMA government” has been clear for the past years. In her foreign trips, GMA has been hounded by protest actions from OFW groups especially from Migrante and its affiliates.
“From Hong Kong, to the United States, Japan and even in Middle East countries, Migrante and other OFW organizations never let go of the chance to protest against anti-people and anti-OFW moves of GMA. If Migrante is even allowed an opening to possibly take part in law-making, there is no way for GMA’s policies to continue and for her to go scot-free from her crimes. Thus, GMA basks in the grave disenfranchisement of Filipino migrants first through the pathetic efforts in the registration period and now the de-listing of Migrante,” she said.
The COMELEC decision has been met by protests from Migrante members and allies in different countries. In Hong Kong, UNIFIL is soliciting the support of different organizations in a petition to have the resolution reversed.
Last Sunday, the group gathered almost 50 organizations for the petition letter that they will fax to member commissioners of the COMELEC. Balladares said that they will continue to solicit the support of other organizations “until the COMELEC makes right its disservice to Filipinos migrants.”
“Migrante should be allowed to run. GMA and her camp shall only further earn the ire of Filipinos abroad if this political harassment against Migrante persists,” she concluded. ###
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