People line up as Comelec launches its Register Anywhere and the Special Register Anywhere Program at the Comelec Headquarters in Intramuros, Manila on February 12, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANILA (UPDATED) — Lawmakers and nominees of party-list groups tagged in the study of an election watchdog responded to the group's claims that they do not represent marginalized sectors, saying developments in the party-list system no longer require them to.

Watchdog Kontra Daya said Wednesday its study found that 86 out of 155 or 55.13% of the party-list groups running in the 2025 midterm elections do not represent the poor or marginalized sectors.

Among the groups identified by the election watchdog was Ako Bicol Party-list, which the election watchdog said has links to big businesses.

In a statement, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon said the claim is “a misinterpretation of the law and a misunderstanding of the role of the party-list system."

The Supreme Court in 2013 opened up the party-list system to regional and national political parties and also ruled that nominees do not need to come from marginalized sectors themselves, only that they "have a track record of advocacy for such sector."

'TRACK RECORD, GOOD INTENTIONS'

Bongalon , who hails from the Bicol region, maintained that their party-list has been working for the sector they represent.

"Our programs in education, healthcare, employment, and disaster response have directly benefited thousands of our constituents, especially those in vulnerable and underserved communities," he said.

Tingog Party-list was also among the groups flagged by Kontra Daya in its study as those with ties to political dynasties.

One of its sitting representatives is Yedda Romualdez, the wife of House Speaker Martin Romualdez; while the first nominee is Andrew Julian, their son.

House Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre of Tingog Party-list said the group's "track record speaks for itself — we’ve passed more than 40 legislative measures into law just this term, addressing key issues that matter to Filipinos."

He said Tingog Centers also provide direct assistance to the needy across the country.

"I want to reassure our supporters that even before filing we made sure to consult all the sectors we wanted to represent,"  Brian Poe Llamanzares, first nominee of FPJ Panday Bayanihan, said in a message to ABS-CBN News.

FPJ Panday Bayanihan, which seeks to enter the House of Representatives, was also named in the Kontra Daya study.

"I also want to reassure voters that I’ve worked hard building up my educational background to best serve the Filipino people and spent the past 10 years in public service working my way up from researcher to chief of staff," Llamanzares, son of Sen. Grace Poe, said.

On the claim of links to political dynasty, Llamanzares pointed out that the only politician in their family is Sen. Poe, whose term ends this year.

ESCUDERO: REVIEW OF PARTY-LIST SYSTEM NEEDED

Senate President Francis Escudero meanwhile said he believes there is a need to review the party-list system.

The Party-List System Act was passed in 1995 law to give "Filipino citizens belonging to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors, organizations and parties" a chance to enact laws as members of the House of Representatives.

Most party-lists in 2025 elections don't represent marginalized sectors: watchdog

"I believe that there is a need to revisit it given that the intent of the framers seems to have been subverted, not only in the Party List law but also based on the numerous decisions of the Court," Escudero said in a statement.

"Any such review should begin by identifying what are the sectors that comprise Philippine society today that need representation in Congress," Escudero said.

"This list should be exhaustive and to the exclusion of other sectors that will not be included. After this, we can decide on the process on how we will elect who will represent each sector."

Comelec rejects 142 party-list groups in 2025 polls

The Senate chief pointed out it has been done in the law that created the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, where "we distinguished sectoral from party representatives."

ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo added that an electoral watchdog should ask the Commission on Elections about the approval of party-lists.    

“Ang tanong ko ang dapat tanungin ng Kontra Daya ang Comelec. Bakit inaprubahan kung hindi sila marginalized? Inaprubahan ng Comelec eh so I really don’t know what they’re talking about,” he said in a chance interview in Iloilo City Thursday, February 13.

“Kasi dapat partylist should represent a sector. Pero if they are not representing a sector, bakit inaprubahan ng Comelec? Dapat ibato ‘yung question na yan sa Comelec,” added the  senatorial candidate.

Any amendment to the party-list system will have to be done by Congress through the passage of a law by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

That means a majority of lawmakers in each chamber has to agree to the changes.

There are about 60 party-list representatives — elected under current rules — making party-lists one of the most influential blocs in the House.