EDITORIAL — What’s in a name? Plenty

It seems that the Commission on Elections is finally doing something about the ploy of some partylists to get votes; name themselves after various forms of ayuda, famous people, or popular TV shows, even if they have no connection to them.

But now there’s going to be no more of that, according to the Comelec.

“There are those who were accredited before we, in the present leadership, came. But surely, there will be no party-list names like that to be accredited and allowed. We will not allow it, even those names of television programs, telenovelas, etc.” said Comelec chairman George Garcia.

This is a good move by Comelec. One way to fool people into voting for a certain group is to mislead them into thinking they represent someone who is immensely popular, something that the masses are so into, something they badly want, or something that they can’t live without.

But then again, Comelec can go the extra mile and actually screen partylists better. Because they just might find that some groups aren’t what they seem.

We have said it before and we will say it again; some partylist groups aren’t really representing marginalized people and sectors, like how they are supposed to be.

By its very nature, the partylist system is supposed to give a voice to those who are marginalized and underrepresented. However, since the partylist system took off, many “marginalized and underrepresented sectors” have come out of the woodwork, including groups supporting provinces or geographical regions that already have representation in Congress, groups that actually have a huge following nationwide, and groups that, it must be said, while they do contribute, don’t have that big an impact on society.

Others are political parties in disguise, or are actually being controlled by them. There is no need to give them more power.

The partylist system has been taken advantage of by people, political parties, and families dynasties that just want more power and influence. It’s time to make the partylist system truly representative of those who don’t have a voice.