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Press Release
08 November 2009
For reference: Vicky Casia-Cabantac
Chairperson, Tel. No.: (852) 93572125
HK OFWs “jog” for Migrante
Urge presidential aspirants to support call vs de-listing
“Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) deserve the chance for a representative
to the Congress. Any aspiring president should take on the cudgels of
advocating for this.
This was the appeal made today by Vicky Casia-Cabantac, chairperson of
Migrante Sectoral Party in Hong Kong, as they conducted the Jog for
Migrante – a symbolic action for their “Let Migrante Run” campaign calling
for the reversal of the COMELEC’s decision to de-list Migrante from the
2010 party-list race.
“We call on those who are intending to run for the highest public office
in the land to support the call for allowing Migrante to run. It is
incumbent for those seeking the presidency to support efforts that will
respect the rights of some 10 million Filipinos abroad, not even including
our family in the Philippines,” Cabantac added.
Such call, she added, is based on what is lawful. Two weeks ago, Migrante
filed a verified objection to the COMELEC’s resolution based on the fact
that Migrante does not fall on any justifiable grounds for de-listing a
party-list organization.
Additionally, Cabantac pointed out that the COMELEC defaulted on the
proper procedure for de-listing a party-list group as no hearing was
conducted prior to the ruling. There have also been party-list groups in
the past that were in the same situation as Migrante but were allowed to
run.
“We will overcome hurdles that may come our way in our bid to have a
genuine representative of OFWs in the Congress. The COMELEC’s resolution
de-listing Migrante is illegal and undemocratic and must be reversed,” she
stressed.
According to Cabantac, they will solicit the support of advocates, civil
libertarians and public officials to add on to the pressure for the
COMELEC to decide on their objection as soon as possible.
“Any delay to the COMELEC’s decision narrows the chance of Migrante to
fight in the party-list polls. Such can deprive OFWs of genuine and direct
representation to the Congress and can make us voiceless in an arena where
our rights and wellbeing should be discussed and upheld,” she said.
The group today also launched a public signing of a petition addressed to
the COMELEC calling for the junking of en banc Resolution No. 8679.
“We will utilize all means available to make known the illegality and
unjustness of the COMELEC’s de-listing. We intend to run and there] is no
reason why OFWs should not be given a shot for true representation in the
Congress,” she concluded.# |
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Press Release
05 November 2009
For reference: Vicky Casia-Cabantac
Chairperson, Tel. No.: (852) 93572125
On Migrante’s verified objection to de-listing
HK OFWs to COMELEC: quit stalling
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) under the banner of Migrante and
supporting organizations, in a protest action at the Philippine Consulate
General, chided the COMELEC today for not acting quickly on the verified
objection filed by the group against Resolution No. 8679 that de-listed
Migrante from the party-list race next year.
“Quit stalling. Each single day that COMELEC drags its feet on this case
is another day less for the prospect of OFWs to have a chance to run in
the party-list elections,” urged Vicky Casia-Cabantac, chairperson of
Migrante Sectoral Party – Hong Kong.
Migrante members in HK submitted today 60 petition letters signed by
various groups in Hong Kong that challenged the COMELEC’s decision and
also urged the body to allow Migrante to run. The said letters were
submitted to the PCG-HK for transmission to the COMELEC in Manila.
“It only took them a couple of minutes to de-list Migrante. Without
studying the law to the letter and without any process due to Migrante,
the COMELEC took us off the party-list race. Now that we really need for
them to act quickly, they take their merry time,” Cabantac added.
Cabantac reiterated the illegality of the decision of the COMELEC as it
wrongly implements the party-list law. She also cited the inconsistency of
the COMELEC in following the rules as they allowed other party-lists like
Bisa, Overseas Pinoy and Banat to run in the 2004 polls even though they
were in the same situation as Migrante that lost one election and did not
run in another.
“While there are hordes of party-lists that are dubious in its
representation of the marginalized such as General Palparan’s Bantay, it
is Migrante that is now suffering from such a reckless decision. Even
COMELEC Chair Jose Melo has recognized the reach of Migrante to OFWs when
he asked for our help in the registration. Why are we the ones targeted
now for de-listing?” she remarked.
Cabantac said that they will launch in Hong Kong this Sunday the petition
that Migrante is circulating to further press the COMELEC to decide on the
contentious de-listing.
“It will be a miscarriage of justice if Migrante is disqualified without
any legal justification at all. If COMELEC continues to play deaf and
blind to the clamor for reversal of the resolution – which is the right
and legal thing to do – then there can really be no reason for the
decision other than political repression as Migrante is known for its
strong stance against government policies detrimental to OFWs,” she
stressed.
Cabantac reported that they will continue to solicit the support of more
organizations in Hong Kong for the petition. They will also continue the
text barrage to the COMELEC that they started last Sunday as well as urge
their family in Philippines to back the campaign.
“COMELEC must act and they must act now. Anything less is a disservice to
OFWs,” she concluded.#
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