The party list: A grotesque phenomenon

The article, “Who bastardized the party list” (6/2/19), by former chief justice Artemio Panganiban, and the letter, “Charlatans cornering the party list” (6/7/19), by Scarlet Sytangco, turned my stomach and made me want to throw up.

When I started reading on the internet the 2013 Supreme Court decision that brought about the mess that the party list system has become, I got even sicker just halfway through the tons of “gobbledygook” cluttering it.

In my hometown and neighboring provinces, the richest and already very powerful families now also have “party list representatives,” in addition to their dynastic grip on public office as councilors, mayors, governors, congressmen, etc.

From more news reports, that grotesque phenomenon is happening all over the archipelago. How did this ever come to pass under the law that was only meant to give a chance to those who can never win in any election due to lack of material resources?

In direct answer to CJ Panganiban’s question, I dare say it was the 15 justices then of the Supreme Court who were all one in thinking that it was immaterial whether or not party list representatives actually belonged to the marginalized sectors, never mind what the law said about “belonging” — so long as, to put it in the simplest terms, their hearts went out to such sectors and “felt” their suffering! I’m not a lawyer, but seriously, what a crock of sh_t!

Will the current clamor to amend the law to stop the Supreme Court from messing it up again do any good? With more party list charlatans now able to exert their force and power in the lawmaking process, it’s a snowball’s chance in hell. God have mercy on this country already.

ROSE ANNE BARTOLOME
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