Transparency group mulls DQ case vs. party-list group

Bency Ellorin, chairman of Pinoy Aksyon on Governance and the Environment (Pinoy Aksyon), said they are set to file the case against Party-list group Ang Mata ay Alagaan (Ang Mata) in early September. (File Photo By Elmer B. Domingo – Own work/Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA — A transparency group is looking to file disqualification case against a party-list group before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Bency Ellorin, chairman of Pinoy Aksyon on Governance and the Environment (Pinoy Aksyon), said they are set to file the case against Party-list group Ang Mata ay Alagaan (Ang Mata) in early September.

“They are already bastardizing the party-list system. We are just prioritizing Ang Mata now, but we will also deal with other groups once we find glaring evidence against them,” he said in an interview on Tuesday.

“Maybe, this should also compel the Comelec to tediously screen party-list groups, in terms of genuine representation to the poor and marginalized and their capacity to serve these sectors,” the Pinoy Aksyon official added.

With this, he noted that they also asked the House ethics and health committees to look into the projects of the party-list.

“Their projects and programs are not in accordance with their mandate as a party-list sector,” Ellorin said.

He said they sought the help of the Lower Chamber after receiving reports that the group has been allegedly conducting free eye clinics with unlicensed doctors and are distributing eye care products that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

In the 2016 polls, Ang Mata received a total of 331,285 votes, which is enough for them to have one seat in Congress. The party-list organization is represented by Rep. Tricia Nicole Velasco-Catera.

Pinoy Aksyon is an independent people’s organization and think tank advocating for good governance through transparency and accountability.