MANILA, Philippines—A so-called Consortium on Electoral Reforms (CER) composed of lawmakers from the two chambers of Congress is railroading the passage of what it dubs an electoral reform law that is really nothing but a perpetuation of the worst features of traditional politics or “trapo” (dirty-mop politics in Tagalog slang).

Without anyone really knowing it, the CER had already held a series of workshop conferences in which the major political parties, party-list groups, members of the academe and so-called civil society reviewed House Bill 3655, “An Act Strengthening the Political Party System” and proposed changes thereto. Last Aug. 30 the bill was passed on third reading, but due to protests against its having been railroaded, it was sent back two days later by the House majority to “further plenary deliberations.”

The railroading was only too obvious. By the time the bill was up for third reading, its title had become “An Act Strengthening the Political Party System, Appropriating Funds Therefor and Other Purposes.” The second clause shows that the proposed law is nothing but a way of channeling state funds (what the bill calls “state subsidy”) to political parties. In short, the bill seeks to fatten trapo parties with pork barrel in time for the 2010 elections. Senate versions of the bill similarly mention the state subsidy to political parties.

Principally authored by Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, HB 3655 is long on rhetoric, short on transparency. Ironically, it purports to promote transparency. According to the CER workshop, the bill aims “to institutionalize reforms in the financing of electoral campaigns, thereby promoting accountability and transparency.” It further seeks to penalize political turncoatism, adjust authorized electoral expenses to current consumer price indices, and define criminal liabilities for the non-submission, non-disclosure, false reporting of financial statements, as well as overspending beyond allowable limits.

What is laughable about the bill is that while it ostensibly tries to check electoral overspending and foster transparency in party financing, it seeks to do so by subsidizing the political party system. As things stand now, political parties are not exactly candid or forthright about their financing and spending.

But let there be no question about it. The Philippines has no law governing political parties other than the Omnibus Election Code, and there are no laws regulating political finance outside the campaign period. There are no limits on spending or contributions, no required declarations of assets and liabilities, no reporting requirements, and no disclosure of financial records to the public or a governmental body. Electoral reform groups have called for a law to regulate party practices and finances between elections.

But even the Comelec has not done well in regulating finances and expenses during campaigns. And it appears none has been penalized for overspending or misdeclaration. A recent report said that several senators had overspent in the last elections. What has the Comelec done about it? Come to think of it, what has the Comelec done to check electioneering and premature campaigning?

In the meantime, a bill seeks to check party finances and expenses between elections by providing state subsidy to political parties in order to—again check the rhetoric— “professionalize parties and make them viable and accountable partners in development and good governance.” The subsidy is invariably called a “political party development fund,” which echoes the euphemisms about the standard pork barrel of congressmen and senators—“countrywide development fund” and “priority assistance development fund.” The connection is all too readily evident!

It seems that for all their good intentions, our lawmakers can’t help but show their true colors. In seeking to reform the political party system, they end up perpetuating its worst features, especially the unseemly side in which politics and public service become tickets to self-entitlement and -enrichment.

It can’t be otherwise, perhaps. Congress is filled with political families that have been battened through the decades; so it wouldn’t be expected to pass an enabling law to realize the constitutional proviso against political dynasties. Now it is trying to pass a law to enable parties to earn more business from government. Our dirty rotten trapos are relentless. The way they are railroading HB 3655 and its Senate version, we are yet witnessing what’s literally a rags to riches story.