Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill wo492 4

Introduced by

Senior Citizens Party-List Representative RODOLFO "OMPONG” M. ORDANES
SAGIP Party-List Representative RODANTE “DANTE” D. MARCOLETA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Party-List System was instituted to enable Filipino citizens belonging to the marginalized
and underrepresented sectors, organizations, and parties, and who lack well-defined political
constituencies but who could contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation
that will benefit the nation as a whole, to become members of the House of Representatives. Towards
this end, registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations or coalitions thereof,
participate in the Party-List System to compete for and win seats in the legislature.

Given the number of party-lists that compete for a seat in the legistature every election, it has
become imperative for a party-list that wishes to be elected to establish a clear brand based on its
credibility, integrity, and sterling public service. Numerous marginalized and underrepresented party-
lists, especially those without any significant economic means to quickly establish their party-list and
its brand, rely on the years-long process of service to their sector until they become duly recognized
by their sector as its representative, and the concerns of the sectors are recognized nationwide.

Unfortunately, some newly registered party-list groups are taking advantage of the
established and legitimate ones by registering party-list names that are confusingly similar to existing
party-lists. This subverts the will of the electorate as those who wish to vote for an established party-
list are misled to vote for the party-list with a confusingly similar appellation. Furthermore,
unscrupulous groups that have engaged in or were convicted of dubious and criminal activities are
also using the party-list system to circumvent the law and vie for a seat in the Legislature.

‘The aforementioned activities run contrary to the intent behind the legislation of the Party-
List System Act, and compromises the integrity of our electoral system.


This measure seeks to finally put an end to these practices by preventing party-lists from
simply piggybacking on what legitimate party-list groups have established, and push them to lay the
foundations of their own good repute. This will also ensure that the party-lists that become part of
the Legislature under the Party-list System are ones of good standing capable of truly representing
their chosen sector.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

RODOLFO “OMI ORDANES



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4924

House Bill No,"

Introduced by

Senior Citizens Party-List Representative RODOLFO “OMPONG” M. ORDANES
SAGIP Party-List Representative RODANTE “DANTE” D. MARCOLETA

AN ACT.
EXPANDING THE GROUNDS OF REMOVAL AND/OR CANCELLATION OF PARTY-LIST
REGISTRATION, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7941, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ELECTION OF PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVES.
THROUGH THE PARTY-LIST SYSTEM, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,” OR THE
PARTY-LIST SYSTEMS ACT

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Section 6 of the Republic Act No. 7941 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 6, Removal and/or Cancellation of Registration. - The COMELEC may motu
proprio or upon the verified complaint of any interested party, remove or cancel, after
due notice and hearing, the registration of any national, regional, or sectoral party,
organization, or coalition on any of the following grounds:

* It Is a religious sect or denomination, organization, or association organized for
religious purposes;

* Tt advocates violence or unlawful means to seek its goal;

* Its a foreign party or organization;

* It is receiving support from any foreign government, foreign political party,
foundation, organization, whether directly or through any of its officers or members
or indirectly through third parties for partisan election purposes;

* It violates or fails to comply with laws, rules, or regulations relating to elections;

* It declares untruthful statements in its petition;


*  Ithas ceased to exist for at least one (1) year; oF

* It fails to participate in the last two (2) preceding elections or fails to obtain at least
two percentum (2%) of the votes cast under the party-list system in the two (2)
preceding elections for the constituency in which it has registered; OR

* TTS REGISTERED NAME, INCLUDING ITS NAME ON THE BALLOT, IS
CONFUSINGLY SIMILAR OR IS A PERCEIVABLY COLORABLE IMITATION
OF THE NAME OF AN ALREADY REGISTERED PARTY-LIST.

Section 2. Rules and Regulations. The COMELEC shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act.

Section 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, rules, and regulations or any part thereof
inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 3. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional
and invalid, such deciaration shall not invalidate other parts thereof which shall remain in full force
and effect.

‘Section 4, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication n the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,