Press Release
June 2, 2010

PROCLAIM AKO BICOL, CIBAC CHIZ SAYS

Independent senator Chiz Escudero today urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to already proclaim the top-vote getter Ako Bicol party list as well as Cibac party list amid pending petitions against each group.

The Commission on Elections deferred proclaiming 11 winning groups which included Ako Bicol and Cibac due to pending disqualification cases separately lodged against these groups. Both Ako Bicol and Cibac face petitions for cancellation of registration due to allegations that it had close links to the outgoing Arroyo administration.

Escudero, a Bicolano himself said the Comelec should proclaim the party list group which is separate from any issues or pending cases regarding the nominees.

"Allegations, petitions against the nominees should not hinder the proclamation of the party itself. The party-list system was created to reflect program-based politics and not personality-based, therefore these duly elected party lists which got top votes should have been proclaimed by now" Escudero said.

Republic Act 7941 was signed into law on March 3, 1995. It provides that the "State shall promote proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives through a party-list system of registered national, regional and sectoral parties, organizations or coalitions thereof...".

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