Good news: Additional Partylist Reps

22 April 2009
Press Release

Saudi OFWs welcomes induction of additional Party-list representatives

Migrante KSA today hailed as “a great leap forward in democratized representation” the decision of the Supreme Court to add 22 party list nominees to the House of Representatives including three progressives such as militant labor leader Joel Maglunsod of Anakpawis, pro-people lawyer Atty. Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna and youth leader Raymond Palatino of Kabataan Partylist .

“We are hopeful that the inclusion of the three progressive leaders would assist us greatly in upholding the rights and welfare of overseas Filipinos,” thus declared A. M. Ociones, Chairperson of Migrante Saudi Arabia, while acknowledging that migrant’s representation “remains elusive after our nominee failed to make the cut.”

During the last elections, migrants pinned their hopes on Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) third nominee, Flora Belinan - a domestic helper and community leader in Hongkong who is currently the Chairperson of Migrante International’s chapter in Baguio-Benguet.

GWP failed to garner enough votes to ensure inclusion of its third nominee even as the recent Supreme Court decision overturned the previous formula and consequently increased Partylist representation to 55 seats by stating that “in compliance with the requirement of the Constitution that the marginalized sectors must reach or get the number close to 20% (55 seats) of the district representation.”

“Given the present breadth and militance of Migrante International, the door is now wide open for OFW representation in the next Congress,” Ociones asserts.

While the recent SC decision would allow rabid anti-left and human rights violators Jovito Palparan (of BANTAY) and Jun Alcover (of ANAD) to sit as Congressmen, Ociones accepts this as “necessary and unavoidable bumps in a democracy.”

“In the end, the vigilance and militant struggle of the people and their representatives would diminish the effect of their repugnant presence in the hallowed halls of Congress,” Ociones closed.

For reference:

A. M. Ociones
Chairperson, Migrante KSA
(Migrante International - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Chapter)
Tel. No.: +966-56-679- 3202
Email: migrante_ksa@yahoo.com
URL: http://migrante-ksa.blogspot.com