Majority of Party-List Seats Not for the Poor—Watchdog

By Juliane Judilla

Election watchdog Kontra Daya has raised alarm over the growing influence of political dynasties, big business, and military-linked groups in the country’s party-list system, warning it has veered from its original purpose.

According to the group’s latest analysis released in February 2025, six out of 10 incoming party-list representatives in the 20th Congress do not genuinely represent marginalized sectors.

Kontra Daya reported that 38 of the 63 incoming party-list lawmakers—or 60.32 percent—are linked to entrenched power structures rather than underrepresented communities.

“Majority of these groups are connected to political clans, wealthy business interests, or retired military and police officials,” said Danilo Arao, Kontra Daya convenor.

“This is a blatant hijacking of a system that was designed to empower the marginalized,” he added.

Out of the 54 party-list groups proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), 32 were flagged by Kontra Daya for questionable affiliations or lack of transparency.

These include groups with nominees facing pending corruption cases, promoting vague advocacies, or offering insufficient public information.

Arao urged the public and civil society to demand urgent reforms to restore the system’s credibility.

“Let us exert public pressure on the 20th Congress to push for the passage of the anti-dynasty law and the amendment to the party-list law to make the latter truly representative,” he said.

“The rich and powerful’s hijacking of the party-list system should stop.”

Among the most controversial groups is the Duterte Youth Party-list, which secured three seats but remains entangled in legal disputes.

Alongside Bagong Henerasyon (BH), Duterte Youth’s proclamation has been suspended by COMELEC due to unresolved disqualification cases.

In March, several youth organizations filed an Urgent Motion to Resolve with COMELEC, pressing for a final ruling on Duterte Youth’s qualification.

The petition claims the group’s registration was void from the beginning, citing violations of age requirements under the Party-list System Act (Republic Act No. 7941).

Section 9 of the law mandates that youth sector nominees must be between 25 and 30 years old.

Ronald Cardema, Duterte Youth’s original nominee in 2019, was 34 at the time and was later replaced by his wife, Ducielle Cardema.

Kontra Daya’s findings have renewed calls for structural reforms to protect the integrity of the party-list system.

The group emphasized that the system should serve as a tool for inclusive representation, not an extension of traditional power.