PRRD wants cleansing of party-list system: Palace

FILE: On Day 7 of the canvassing for Senators and Party List in the #NLE2019, the NBOC resumes session at 8:13PM to canvass the COC from Japan which was received today. (Photo: @COMELEC/Twitter)

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte wants a cleansing of the party-list system in the country, Malacañang on Thursday said.

Responding to queries from the media in a briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte may be keen on abolishing the party-list system or on putting in marginalized sector representatives in the organizations.

“Baka papunta roon (abolition) kung ganyan ang sentimyento niya or baka gusto niya na iyong nagre-represent coming from that sector (It might be heading to abolition or maybe he wants representatives to really come from the marginalized sector),” he said.

Panelo said it is up to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to institute reforms in the party-list system.

“Actually nasa (it’s up to) Comelec. Sila ang nagka-qualify ng mga nominees (They are the ones who qualify nominees),” he said.

“He (Duterte) is expressing an idea and that’s for the Comelec to respond to it,” he added.

The President on Wednesday said the party-list system is dominated by millionaires.

“The rich people fund the party-list. They are named after laborers but their nominees are the millionaires,” he said in his speech at the oath-taking of newly-elected local government officials of Cagayan de Oro City.