Senatorial candidate Leody De Guzman answers questions during Harapan 2025 at the ABS-CBN Headquarters in Quezon City on February 7, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Labor leader Leody De Guzman, a candidate for senator, called for reforms in the party-list system to bar dynasties and big business from using party-lists as a “backdoor entry” to Congress. 

“Nagsilipana na ang mga partylist na hindi naman kumakatawan sa interes ng masa, lalo na ang mga political dynasties na ginagamit ito para solohin ang kapangyarihan at pwinepwesto ang kanilang mga kaanak,” he said.

(Party-list groups that do not represent the interest of the masses are dominating, especially the political dynasties that uses it to put their kin in positions of power)

De Guzman said the system, required by the 1987 Constitution and institutionalized by the Party-List System Act, should “return its original intent” of electing representatives from basic sectors.

He said that regional party-lists are meant to represent specific regions, but have been used by political dynasties to expand their power.

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

“Pero kung bakit halos wala nang puwang ang mga mamamayan sa party-list ay dahil sa pag-interpret sa batas na bukas ito sa lahat at hindi inklusibo lang sa mga nasa laylayan,” De Guzman added.

(The interpretation of the law that the party-list system is open for everyone and not exclusive to the marginalized means there is hardly any space left for representatives of the poor)

He said he seeks to increase party-list representation up to 70 percent of House membership for “greater peoples’ participation in governance.”

KONTRA DAYA FLAGS MORE THAN HALF OF PARTY-LISTS

On February this year, independent poll watcher Kontra Daya flagged more than half of the party-list groups leading the poll surveys for “being linked to political clans, big businesses or the police and the military.” 

Party-lists flagged for links to businesses, political clans point to track record

Kontra Daya said 40 party-list groups are dominated by political dynasties, 25 are affiliated with big businesses, 18 have connections to the police or military, seven are linked to corruption cases, 11 were flagged for “dubious advocacy” and nine did not supply enough information.

Among the flagged party-lists is Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS), represented by Jocelyn Tulfo, wife of incumbent senator Raffy Tulfo and mother of Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Tulfo.

The reelectionist party-list topped the latest election survey conducted by OCTA research in the party-list race. 

Andrew Julian Romualdez, son of House Speaker Romualdez, is the first nominee of Tingog Sinirangan party-list. The House speaker’s wife Yedda Marie Romualdez is its sixth nominee and its incumbent representative.

Kontra Daya also flagged 4PS party-list, represented by House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan and House Assistant Minority Leader JC Abalos. 

De Guzman also pointed to Agimat party-list, which is affiliated with reelectionist Sen. Bong Revilla; 1-Pacman party-list linked to senatorial candidate Manny Pacquiao; and Ako Bicol party-list, which is closely related to the Co dynasty. 

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