16th Congress may get 11 new party-list representatives | ABS-CBN

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16th Congress may get 11 new party-list representatives

16th Congress may get 11 new party-list representatives

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

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MANILA - The 16th Congress may get about 11 new party-list representatives, even if they have less than six months to go before their terms end.

House Speaker Sonny Belmonte confirmed that the leadership is now verifying with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) who among the incumbent party-list representatives filed to run for other positions under other parties in the 2016 national elections.

Earlier today, lawyer Harry Roque pointed out a provision of Republic Act 7941 or the Party-List Law.

Roque had used section 15 of the law in his petition to annul a recent ruling of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal as it included the vote of an incumbent party-list congresswoman, Gabriela's Luz Ilagan, who has filed to run for city councilor in Davao under the party of Mayor Rorigo Duterte.

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Section 15 of the provides that “any elected party-list representative who changes his political party or sectoral affiliation during his term of office shall forfeit his seat: Provided, That if he changes his political party or sectoral affiliation within six (6) months before an election, he shall not be eligible for nomination as party-list representative under his new party or organization."

"Nagfile na kami ng motion to annul kasi 4-3 (ang boto), in reality should be 3-3 kasi dapat wala nang boto si Congresswoman Ilagan. Dahilan ay section 15 of RA 7941. She's been deemed to have forfeited her seat when she filed her COC (certificate of candidacy) under the party of Mayor Duterte," Roque explained.

"If you’re no longer representing your marginalized sector, then and you have opted to join a regular party-list, you cease to be a representative under the party-list system," he added.

During the plenary session on Wednesday, Ilagan, who represents the minority in the HRET, was replaced by fellow Gabriela lawmaker, Emmy de Jesus in a manifestation by House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora.

Asked about Roque's argument, Belmonte said by text, "Yes l think he’s right. We are checking with Comelec and getting copies of their COCs."

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When asked if the House will implement it, Belmonte said, "Yes, after we verify."

Based on information reaching ABS-CBN News, as many as 11 lawmakers may be affected by the law. This, however only affects the representative, and not the party-list he or she represents. The party-list gets to keep the congressional seat which will be transferred to the party-list group's next nominee in line.

The representatives who filed COCs for other elective positions are: Roy Seneres of OFW Family Club, running for president under the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka or Workers and Peasants Party; Catalina Leonen-Pizarro of ABS Party List, running for mayor of Sudipen, La Union under NUP; Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna, running for senator under Makabayan; Nicanor Briones of Agap, running for governor of Batangas under AGAP PMB; Cresente Paez of COOP NATCCO, running for senator as an independent; Irwin Tieng, of Buhay, running for city councilor in Manila under UNA; Luz Ilagan of Gabriela, running for city councilor under a local party in Davao; Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III of ABONO, running for governor as an independent; Samuel Pagdilao of ACT CIS, running for senator as an independent; Michael Rivera of 1Care, running for mayor of Padre Garcia, Batangas under LP; and Johnny Revilla of OFW Family, running for city councilor of Quezon City as independent.

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