Allow Migrante Sectoral Party to Run in 2010!

Allow Migrante Sectoral Party to Run in 2010!

About eight to ten million Pinoy migrants are spread out in 200 countries but have no representative of their own in Congress. This is the reason why Migrante Sectoral Partylist has prepared to join the 2010 elections, but was delisted by Comelec to participate last October 13, 2009.

This is unjust. Neither was there due process. The reason given was that Migrante had failed to participate in the last two succeeding elections (2004 and 2007). But the rule does not apply to Migrante since it participated only once (2004). Also, as required by the partylist law, it manifested to Comelec its intention not to participate in the 2007 elections and prepare instead for 2010.

And now that it is about ready for 2010, and has a big chance to win, Migrante became a victim of another fraud by Comelec which brings back memories of the “Hello Garci” scandal. Not only Migrante is denied the right to participate but that of thousands of OFWs have been denied the right to vote for a representative of their own.

By this fraudulent act, Comelec has just shown its capacity to twist the law, do its utmost to stop progressive partylists from participating, and serve the interests of Malacanang. Migrante is known as a critic of government not just for its neglect of OFWs but also for its labor export program. Migrante getting to Congress is an even worse scenario for government.

Thousands of migrants did not take the delisting quietly. OFWs from around the world, especially those belonging to Migrante’s chapters in 23 countries, lambasted Comelec and rallied before consulates and embassies. From the Philippines to Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Europe, US and Canada, the migrants cried foul at Comelec’s baseless and illegal decision. The call to allow Migrante to participate is uniting and mobilizing migrants from around the globe.

And so are their families responding to this call. It is the height of injustice for migrants to suffer disenfranchisement from the hands of Comelec with the delisting of their own organization. They who have sacrificed so much for their families and have saved the tottering Philippine economy from collapse could not even vote for their representative of choice. The powers-that-be fear the rise of a growing migrant force.

Let this serve as notice to the Arroyo government. We will not allow Comelec or any agency of government or Malacanang to trample on the rights of migrants. Tuloy ang laban! No to delisting! Allow Migrante to run in 2010!

–Migrante Sectoral Party