COMELEC wooing electoral fraud – Migrante

"The first automated elections in 2010 is going to be marred with electoral fraud even before it starts if the Comelec continues to conceal budget anomalies, make flawed decisions and disenfranchise voters of their right to suffrage," said Connie Regalado, Chairperson of Migrante Partylist in a protest rally in front of the Commission of Elections in Intramuros, Manila.

Migrante, a sectoral party of OFWs, was one of those recently delisted when Comelec issued an order to remove 26 groups in the list of registered partylists who can participate in the 2010 elections. The organization intends to file a verified opposition to the resolution.

Regalado claimed that they have already raised issues of irregularities to the Comelec since the registration for the Overseas Absentee Voting was shortened from one year to seven months and yet the Commissioners remained mum on the matter.

"We just found out later that the main reason for the shortening of the registration period was due to the diversion of the OAV fund to the Department of Foreign Affairs yet the commissioners are conspicuously concealing this from public knowledge up to now," Regalado explained. “This is highly questionable!”

Since the OAV started in 2004, the allocated budget for the said exercise was given to the Comelec since, by law, the Commission was defined as the lead agency on OAV matters. The group claimed that this is the first time the OAV budget was released to the DFA.

"Then the Comelec followed this with another dubious act. Rather than delisting farcical groups headed by political dynasties and human rights violators, the Comelec barred legitimate partylist groups to participate in the 2010 elections. Worse, this was done by the Commission without due process," Regalado added.

According to Migrante, they were already aware that Comelec intended to cleanse the long list of registered partylist groups. However, they expected this was going to be done by the poll body by picking groups that does not represent any marginalized sectors as defined in the partylist system act.

"We are afraid that these precedents, such as Comelec holding back information from the public, demonstrating impartiality in favor of pseudo-partylist groups, denying due process and the chance for legitimate sectoral representatives to participate in elections, could lead to more irregularities and electoral fraud as election comes nearer," Regalado explained.

To demonstrate their resolve in participating in the upcoming elections, the protesters held a giant mobile phone with the note “Let Migrante run, remove it from delisting...please pass to COMELEC”. They called on all OFWs and their families to ram the phones of the COMELEC with protest messages. ###

Migrante Partylist, a sectoral party of OFWs, directly accused the Comelec in preventing them from joining the partylist race in 2010.

"At least five partylist groups which have the same situation as Migrante were allowed by Comelec to run in previous elections. So why is Comelec now reversing itself? We believe that the delisting of Migrante is politically motivated," Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairperson of Migrante Partylist claimed.

In a press conference held in a restaurant in Quezon City, Migrante Partylist together with election lawyers and representatives of other progressive partylist questioned the credibility of the Comelec and its recent en banc Resolution 8679.

"Agrifil, Sagip-Kapwa, BISA, Pinoy Overseas Party and Banat Partylist were permitted to run in the 2004 elections even if the said groups failed to obtain at least 2 percentum of the total votes in 1998 and failed to participate in the 2001 elections. While Migrante, which is in the same predicament, was delisted by Comelec. This clearly shows that the Comelec's en banc resolution 8679 banning Migrante to run in the coming election is inconsistent with its previous decision," asserted Regalado.

The group believes that Malacanang allegedly has a hand in the Comelec's decision since Migrante has been a perennial headache to the Arroyo administration by constantly citing the government’s criminal neglect in cases of trafficking, human rights violations, abuse and exploitation of OFWs in various parts of the world."

"We smell a rat here and we challenge the Comelec to explain to us and to the many OFWs who have been clamoring for MSP to run why, at this time that we are stronger now to run for a seat, COMELEC is denying us this legitimate right!" Regalado added.

Regalado likewise predicted that the delisting of Migrante is just a prelude to suppressing progressive partylist groups in favor of partylist allegedly being backed by the Arroyo administration.

"Last election, the Arroyo administration fielded at least 9 pseudo-partylist groups headed by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo's sister Maria Lourdes Arroyo of Kasangga Partylist and President Arroyo's favorite general, Jovito Palparan of Bantay Partylist. Migrante is among those who exposed this in 2007 and we will expose them again this coming election," warned Regalado.

Regalado blamed Comelec for approving the registration of groups who allegedly cannot represent marginalized sectors as stated in the Partylist System Act.

"What a mockery Comelec has made of the law. Instead of giving credence and encouraging real partylist groups, the Comelec has already allowed the proliferation of farcical groups, the domination and manipulation of the ruling elite, and the accommodation of fascist generals and politicians from dynasties as nominees or representatives." Regalado concluded. ####

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. ###

Migrants Group Launches Cyber Protest Against COMELEC

 "Let our voices be heard, allow Migrante Partylist to run in the 2010 party-list elections!"

 This call in the Facebook Causes (apps.facebook.com/causes/?m=ed6ae9f3) is fast becoming the battle cry of Migrante Partylist after being delisted by the Comelec last October 13, 2009.

 "The call to allow Migrante to participate in the 2010 elections is gaining ground and we intend to make the world know that OFWs are being robbed of their right to representation if the COMELEC  will not hear their plea," said Connie Regalado, Chairperson of Migrante Partylist.

 Migrante was among the groups cited when the Comelec issued resolution no. 8679 ordering to delete 26 partylist in the list of registered national, regional or sectoral parties, organizations or coalitions.

 "Right now, OFW organizations from different countries abroad are already clogging the email addresses of the Comelec Commissioners to protest the disenfranchisement of overseas Filipinos," Regalado claimed.

 The group asserted that they were denied due process since the "Comelec veered away from calling a hearing or even notifying the concerned parties before it issued the said resolution."

 "Our chapters in all 23 countries have committed to hold protests in various forms to denounce the Comelec’s decision denying us the chance to be heard in the halls of congress while approving the participation of pseudo-partylists such as that of Mike Arroyo’s sister -Kasangga Partylist and Jovito Palparan’s Bantay Partylist," Regalado said. “We are likewise planning to launch an online petition.”

 Already , Unifil-Migrante, the biggest chapter of Migrante in Hong Kong held a picket  in front of the Philippine Consulate General at United Center Building, Admiralty, Hong Kong. The group denounced the Comelec for delisting Migrante and accused the Arroyo administration as the one behind Migrante’s exclusion.

 "Our chapters in New Zealand has already sent a protest letter to Comelec Chairman Melo and officers of Migrante-Middle East have also conducted a press conference to protest the Comelec’s decision. Other OFW groups in Europe and North America also intend to protest in support of Migrante," Regalado added.

 Regalado warned the Comelec that it will loose its credibility to hold an open and honest election if it will exclude legitimate representatives of the marginalized sectors as provided by law while it continuous to recognize pseudo-partylist groups.####

KASAMMAKO-Migrante Korea Statement 

“The Commission on Election's en banc resolution no. 8679 issued on October 13, 2009 undermines and derogates people’s democratic rights to represent the marginalized sector of the Philippine society in the parliament. The resolution is preemptive of the influx of party list groups registering for the 2010 National Elections and by rule of thumb and without proper consultation with parties concerned de-listed several existing party list groups especially the Migrante Sectoral Party,” Pol Par, KASAMMAKO Chairperson said.

The Executive Committee of KASAMMAKO, an alliance of Filipino migrant workers organizations in South Korea headed by Pol Par believes that COMELEC’s decision to de-list or cancellation of registration of Migrante Sectoral Party and other party-list groups on the premise of failure of Party-list organizations to comply with section 6(8) of Republic Act No. 7941, that is, unable to obtain 2 percentum of the total party-list votes in 2004 and have failed to participate in the 2007 elections is a total disregard of constitutional processes.

“This provision was cited as the grounds for the removal of party-list groups that failed to participate in two preceding election or failed to obtain at least two percentum of the votes cast in the two preceding elections. The COMELEC made an obvious mistake when it removed 5 of the 26 party-list groups just because they failed to get 2 percent in one election and was not able to participate in another election. This clearly negates the qualifier in the provision wherein the instance of failure should be committed twice and in two preceding elections,” Pol Par assailed.

The Executive Committee of KASAMMAKO strongly opposes this unjust decision of the Comelec that denies a legitimate representative of a marginalized sector of our society to participate in the 2010 party-list election. The reasons for this opposition Pol Par elaborated are the following:

First, the said decision was done without due process. Section 6 of the Party-list System Act clearly states that removal or cancellation of registration of party-list groups can only be done after due notice and hearing was conducted. The COMELEC failed to notify the concerned parties nor did it conduct any hearing prior to the issuance of its resolution to delete 26 party-list groups.

Secondly, it has cited number 8 of section 6 of the Partylist System Act as the ground for delisting Migrante where it says "(8) it fails to participate in the last two elections or fails to obtain at least two percentum of the votes cast under the party-list system in the two preceding elections for the constituency in which it has registered." This provision does not apply to Migrante because it only participated in 2004 and did not participate in 2007 elections. The clause in the COMELEC provision “two preceding elections” exempts Migrante and other de-listed party-list groups of the same predicament from being automatically disqualified in 2010 elections. The said instances of failure to participate or to obtain 2 percentum should be committed twice and in two preceding elections before the concerned party-list can be de-listed.

The removal of Migrante from the bona-fide party-list group that can participate in the 2010 elections is discriminatory of the genuine marginalized groups. On the other hand, theCOMELEC has approved the more than ten Malacanang backed partylist prior to the 2007 elections. COMELEC Commissioner Abalos even tried to conceal this by refusing to reveal the nominees of the said groups. Among them were Maria Lourdes Arroyo, sister of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, of Ang Kasangga Partylist, and General Jovito Palparan of Bantay Partylist who both were given a seat in congress after the Supreme Court decision last April. This act should be reversed. Migrante should be restored to the official list of party-list groups that will participate in 2010 elections.

MR. POL PAR, Chairperson
Katipunan ng mga Samahan ng Migranteng Manggagawa sa Korea (KASAMMAKO)
Seoul, South Korea
Contact numbers: 82-106-8727-526
October 18, 2009

Migrante KSA, Black Friday launched 

  "Removing Migrante Sectoral Party (MSP) in the list of accredited groups in the 2010 Partylist elections is a mockery of the intent behind the Party List Law," thus declared Migrante Saudi Arabia Chairperson A. M. Ociones as the group calls October 23 a Black Friday in protest of the recent decision of the Commission of Elections (COMELEC) En-banc Resolution No. 8679 delisting MSP along with 25 other groups. 

  "By removing MSP from the list of groups accredited to participate in the Partylist elections, COMELEC marginalized the migrants even more," asserts Ociones. "Definitely, this is contrary to the real intent of the Party list Law of encouraging the participation of the un-represented and marginalized sectors of society in the democratic process of nation-building.”

  The decision dated 13 October 2009, removed MSP "for failing to get the required two percentum (2%) of the total votes cast in the two preceding elections" (2004 and 2007), based on the provisions of Sec 6, no. 8 of RA 7941, otherwise known as the Partylist Law, as affirmed by COMELEC Resolution No. 2847 dated 25 June 1996. 

  Since MSP ran and lost in the 2004 elections but did not participate as a candidate in the 2007 elections, Ociones asks "whether the said rules apply to Migrante Partylist at all." 

  And by issuing the Resolution without any consultation with the concerned parties, Ociones asks further whether "COMELEC based its decision on a technicality to cover its agenda of degrading the confidence of OFW's in the country's political system and pushing the migrants sector to the outer fringes of democratic participation." 

  "The OFW as a sector has been the largest demographic group without any representation in the political arena for the longest time," Ociones explains. "With its remittances bouying the economy afloat, OFWs however have been mostly cynical of the current political and economic system."
  According to Ociones, MSP represents the broadest ever possible network of OFW organizations with chapters in at least 35 countries around the world and in the 13 regions of the country. In Saudi Arabia, MSP chapters have been active in organizing and advocating issues from the homefront and of OFW concerns in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Dawadmi, Al Jouf, Jubail, Dammam, Hail and Khamis Mushayt. 



  "With the proven track record of Migrante in fiscalizing the government to act in favor, and respond to the most pressing needs of OFWs, getting MSP in the next Congress as Party-list representative is the greatest hope the Filipino migrants can ever achieve," Ociones closed.

Black Friday Protest

  "Delisting MSP means delisting OFWs in the political arena," Migrante Jeddah Chairperson Bob Fajarito exclaims. "Thus, every OFW is encouraged to express their disappointment with the COMELEC decision by wearing black this Friday."

  In holding the Black Friday protest, Migrante Saudi Arabia chapters would hold various assemblies in discreet locations, send protest letters and launch a petition asking the COMELEC to reconsider its decision.

  According to Fajarito, they are also encouraging like-minded OFWs to send protest letters to COMELEC via email. The petition and instructions on how to send the protest letters would be available at this blog: http://migrante-ksa.blogspot.com or at their Facebook account soon.

In a related development, Migrante chapter Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS) started holding indoor assemblies in different discreet locations in Riyadh as early as Monday (19 October) to express their disappointment over the delisting. ### 





Reference/s:





Bob Fajarito

Chairperson, Migrante Jeddah

Tel No. +966 50-274-5340



A. M. Ociones

Chairperson, Migrante KSA

(Migrante International - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Chapter)

Tel. No.: +966-56-679-3202

Email: [email protected]

URL: http://migrante-ksa.blogspot.com

Migrante Canada:


Suppression of rights of a party that seeks to represent in the House of Representatives the millions of Filipino migrants around the world 



Migrante Canada denounces in the strongest possible terms the decision of the Commission on Elections [COMELEC] to delist the Migrante Sectoral Party (MSP) from the list of registered organizations vying in next year’s party-list election.
“This COMELEC decision is unjust and anomalous,” says Marco Luciano, Migrante International Global Council representative for Canada.  “Not only is it a violation of due process leading to the disenfranchisement of a group that has truly served the interests of Filipino migrant workers and their families the world over. It opens the door for the Malacanang-backed party-list groups to dominate the coming party-list election, thus serving the ruling administration’s objective of prolonging its rule.”  


What ever happened to due process?

In its Resolution No. 8679 issued October 13, 2009, the COMELEC en banc ordered to delete Migrante and 25 other groups “from the list of registered national, regional or sectoral parties, organizations or coalitions” citing Section 6, item No. 8 of the Republic Act 7941 otherwise known as the Party-List System Act. 
This particular section of the Party-List System Act allows the COMELEC to motu propio - "on its own impulse" - remove a sectoral group or party BUT ONLY “after due notice and hearing” if “it fails to participate in the last two (2) preceding elections OR fails to obtain at least two percentum (2%) of the votes cast under the party-list system in the two (2) preceding elections.”


However, the MSP was never guilty of such failures in two preceding elections - in 2004 and 2007. 

The MSP participated in the 2004 partylist election, but, unfortunately, failed to garner the required 2% of the votes cast.  Then the MSP did not participate in the 2007 election after formally informing the COMELEC months before the election.  The failure to gain the two percentum of votes happened only once - in 2004 - not twice, not in two preceding elections; and the "failure" to participate in the election happened only once - in 2007 - not twice, not in two preceding elections.  It is therefore erroneous, if not malicious, for the COMELEC to delist the MSP and other sectoral groups on the basis of Section 6, Item 8 of RA 7941. 

“Moreover, the COMELEC’s  en banc decision is tantamount to suppressing the rights of a party that seeks nothing but to represent in the House of Representatives the millions of Filipino migrants all over the world,”  Luciano adds. The MSP announced in September its intention to run again in the party-list election, cognizant of “existing policies and laws that are detrimental to the interest of migrant Filipinos and in order for Overseas Filipino Workers [OFWs] to be represented by their own partylist.”

“Why disenfranchise the MSP which has been in the forefront of helping many distressed OFWs and their families since its formation in 1996?” says Luciano, noting the courageous work of Migrante and its allied organizations in many parts of the world. 

If the COMELEC wants to unload itself of election work next year, they should have made efforts to get rid of many sham party-list groups, like Bantay and Kasangga, supportive of the Macapagal-Arroyo regime while masquerading as representatives of the marginalized sectors.  Let the axe fall on these bogus groups, but not on the Migrante Sectoral Party which truly represents the interest of the Filipino migrants.    

“We call on all Filipino migrants around the world to condemn the COMELEC’s unjust decision,” Jonathan Canchela, chair of the Filipino Migrant Workers’ Movement [FMWM], said in a separate statement. 

“We encourage them to voice out their opinions against this oppressive decision delisting the MSP from the list of qualified sectoral groups hoping to participate in the electoral process next year.  Let the dissenting voices of the Filipino migrants be heard,” says Canchela, who also announced that FMWM and other Migrante Canada member organizations are planning to launch consolidated protest actions in response to this decision of the COMELEC.###

“COMELEC delisting of the most active OFWs groups’ party-list –the Migrante Partylist supported by grass roots OFWs organizations and chapters of Migrante International with proven track records of defending and upholding OFWs rights and welfare, is not only an attack to progressive OFWs organizations but also to the 10-M OFWs and their families of their right to have a genuine representation in Congress,” thus said today by John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator and Migrante Partylist Vice Chairperson

Monterona, a Saudi-based OFW working for more than 5 years as a construction site office staff, said COMELEC ruling delisting Migrante Partylist is a slap on the real intent of the Partylist System Act (R.A. 7941) of democratizing the law-making process in the legislative branch of the government to allow marginalized sector like OFWs to elect their representatives that would put forward their sectoral agenda and to better serve its interest in the law making process and push for the needed reforms.

Monterona opined that the Party list System Act is another arena for OFWs and their families, pushing for genuine reforms allowing them to further advance and protect the rights and welfare of the sector which Migrante is serving.

“It is precisely the continued neglect and failure of the past administrations and of the present Arroyo administration to protect the rights and well being of OFWs that pushes grass roots OFWs organizations under the largest alliance of Migrante International to participate again in the Party-list election to genuinely represents OFWs in Congress by legislating pro-OFWs and their families’ agenda,” Monterona added.

Meanwhile, Migrante-Middle East lambasted COMELEC law department head Atty. Ferdinand Rafanan when he was asked by a TV host during an early morning show today why Migrante Party list was delisted, but Atty. Rafanan failed give a clear answer to the question. (kindly follow link http://www.gmanews.tv/video/49385/comelec-delists-26-party-list-groups).

“It is sad to know that even the COMELEC Law Department head does not know why Migrante Party list was delisted which lead us to suspect that Migrante’s delisting is more of COMELEC’s partisan political act not allowing Migrante to participate in the May 2010 party-lists elections because it is very critical to the Arroyo administration rather than basing its ruling on the provision of R.A. 7941 and its implementing rules,” Monterona argued.

Monterona said it should be the Arroyo administration-backed party lists are the first to be disqualified such as Bantay (Jovito Palparan), ANAD (Jun Alcover), Kasangga (Ma. Lourdes Arroyo), among others as they did not even have no clear marginal sector’s representation; unlike Migrante which has been all year round since 1986 handling the cases of Flor Contemplacion and the many others who have been abused and maltreated OFWs continuously defending and upholding OFWs and their families rights, welfare and well being amid government continued neglect and lip service to the sector that is keeping the economy afloat.

“Migrante chapters around the world and at the home front are preparing for a legal battle when it file its legal action against COMELEC ruling delisting Migrant Party list next week and it will be accompanied by coordinated rallies and various forms of protest actions until COMELEC will reverse its wrong decision delisting Migrante party list,” Monterona added.

“With its proven tract records genuinely serving OFWs and their families, Migrante will surely win the support of OFWs and their families back home joining us win this battle,” Monterona ended. # # #





Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante Middle East regional coordinator

Migrante Partylist Vice Chairperson

Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012