Press Statement
April 14, 2013
CEGP Baguio-Benguet is enraged by the latest ploy by the Commission of Elections to disqualify the KABATAAN partylist, the lone representative of the youth in the Congress, and Piston partylist in the upcoming May 2013 Elections. With this move, the COMELEC only reinforces its being an Aquino COMELEC.
The Comelec charged both partylists who are members of the Makabayan bloc for allegedly violating COMELEC Resolution No. 9615 which concerns the posting of campaign materials on public areas. Earlier, KABATAAN Partylist already showed proofs of compliance to the rules which are accompanied by photo documentations and eyewitness accounts.
CEGP Baguio-Benguet sees this move by the clearly biased COMELEC as a motivated attack against members of the Makabayan Bloc who is known for advancing the genuine interests of the Filipino people. Along with the red-baiting of the Makabayan’s lone Senatorial candidate Teddy Casiño, the COMELEC, backed by and evidently protecting the Aquino administration, is resorting to a variety of evil tactics to hinder the members of the Makabayan bloc to push for its alternative politics.
The COMELEC overlooks the fact that the KABATAAN Partylist has long been working for the promotion of the interests of the youth not just in its stint in the Congress but also beyond the legislative arena. KABATAAN partylist has been on the forefront of the fight against the systematic neglect of the Aquino administration to the State Universities and Colleges which essentially deprive the Filipino people of its basic right to education. Since Aquino take his seat as President, KABATAAN partylist has been leading the massive protest actions against huge budget cuts in SUCs and tuition fee increases in private schools. KABATAAN Partylist was also the leading author of the Anti No-Permit, No Exam Policy which can be helpful to students who are prevented from taking their examinations because of unpaid fees. KABATAAN partylist was also one of the earliest to file a petition against the unconstitutional Cybercrime Law and mobilized its widest forces to contribute in the eventual issuance of temporary restraining order on the said law. Also, with the help of its national formations and chapters, KABATAAN partylist, through its Tulong Kabataan Program, was also able to respond most quickly and most widely to help our fellowmen in times of national disasters and calamities. These among the many other achievements and meaningful actions of KABATAAN partylist in protecting the rights of the Filipino people the COMELEC seems to consciously bypass and focus instead on a little issue which the partylist has not left unresolved and not rectified.
At this point, we urge every youth to be vigilant as the COMELEC makes its decision in this disqualification case. We have to bear in mind that without KABATAAN Partylist, without our sole representation in the Congress, we will lose a key ally in our struggle for our rights and the protection of our interests. The history and track record of KABATAAN partylist speaks for itself. However, these are not enough to thwart a bullish apparatus of the Aquino administration who works to persecute those who are at the side of the people. What is needed is mobilizing the largest act of condemnation from the youth in order to frustrate this harassment from the COMELEC.
NO TO DISQUALIFICATION OF KABATAAN AND PISTON PARTYLISTS!
NO TO DISQUALIFICATION OF PROGRESSIVE PARTYLISTS!
UPHOLD GENUINE REPRESENTATION OF THE MARGINALIZED!
cegpcordillera 