The monumental failures of party-list representatives

The greatest travesty of our democratic system is the blatant bastardization of the party-list system, where it is possible for the richest congressman to represent the poorest marginalized sectors. What do the rich know about the poor? What have they done to this poor sector, which constitutes almost half of the 110 million Filipinos?

There are now 304 members of the oversized House of Representatives, (expenses shouldered by overtaxed, underserved taxpayers in a poor country with too many billionaires among the representatives), of whom 63 are supposedly representing poor, voiceless, unrepresented sectors in society. I was invited to join a party-list representing OFWs, having worked as labor attaché for nine years, in three countries, and during which I actually rescued our migrant workers from dirty, difficult, dangerous, degrading, and deceptive jobs. But I was asked to contribute millions just to become listed as number two or three among the party-list nominees. I said no. That’s why only the very rich can afford to represent the very poor. And that to me is a desecration of the noble objectives of party-list representation as enshrined in the Constitution.

Today, the richest congressman is Mikee Romero, with a reported net worth, as of end of 2018, in the whopping amount of P7.858 billion, not million but billion, twice richer than real estate magnate Cynthia Villar. Romero is a party-list representative representing One PACMAN (One Patriotic Coalition of Marginalized Nationals). And so, we have a billionaire representing the poor. What did he do to help the poor during the pandemic? Did he sponsor a community pantry in every urban poor settlement where his workers in his Global Port empire live? What laws did he pass in Congress to help the workers? We never heard about him advocating for social amelioration? He is powerful as one of the many dozens of deputy speakers.

We have so many party-lists with unclear constituencies. The ACT CIS of Raffy Tulfo and the Bayan Muna aligned with the radicals have three members. What have they done, except to demonstrate and burn effigies, mouth the lines of Joma Sison, and lambast the government? Have they contributed something positive? Two representatives each for Ako Bicol, Ang Probinsyano, CIBAC, Marino, and 1Pacman, but we never heard any helpful laws ever passed by these overpaid and underperforming burdens. Why are the Warays considered marginalized, with two party lists: An Waray and Tingog Sinirangan there, and why are Warays represented by Yedda, a Cebuana, wife of Martin Romualdez? The Warays aren’t poor. Many of those listed among the richest congressmen are from Leyte: Martin Romualdez, Vicente Veloso III, and Lucy Torres Gomez.

If the Warays are marginalized, why not the Cebuanos, Boholanos, and those in the island provinces of Camiguin, Guimaras, Biliran, and Dinagat? Not to mention Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Basilan? And how come the Kusug Tausug party-list is represented by a very rich Sheree Tan? Are religious groups marginalized? If not, why is Eddie Villanueva there, using CIBAC, and Lito Atienza representing Brother Mike Velarde's El Shaddai using the name Buhay?

Come on! Let’s stop this frontal insult against the common sense of Filipinos. Pinoy can be silly most of the times, when it comes to elections, they can be crazy, but they are not stupid. They know they are being taken for a ride. And so, for once in our lives, let’s come to our senses and use our brains. Let's all denounce and reject these people who are laughingly mocking our good nature and simple minds. Let them eat dust come elections in 2022. They are billionaires, they can play games elsewhere. They should stop insulting us and making a fool of the people all the time.