EXPOSED: 86 Party-List Groups Caught Hijacking the Elections – Are You Voting for One?

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

​In the lead-up to the May 2025 Philippine elections, the integrity of the party-list system has come under intense scrutiny. Established to ensure representation for marginalized and underrepresented sectors in the House of Representatives, the system now faces allegations of being co-opted by political dynasties, big businesses, and individuals with dubious advocacies.​

Kontra Daya's Revelations

Election watchdog Kontra Daya recently released a report highlighting that over half of the 156 party-list groups vying for seats do not genuinely represent the marginalized sectors they claim to support. Specifically, 86 groups have been flagged for "hijacking" the party-list system, with ties to political dynasties, big businesses, and the military or police establishments. Some even have pending corruption cases or provide insufficient public information about their organizations. ​

Danilo Arao, Kontra Daya's convenor, emphasized that while the percentage of questionable party-list groups has slightly decreased from 70% in the 2022 elections to 55.13% in 2025, the infiltration by political dynasties remains concerning. In the current roster, 40 out of 156 groups have links to political dynasties, a marginal decrease from 43 out of 177 in the previous elections. ​

Campaign Dynamics and Public Response

The official campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups commenced on February 11, 2025. As the election season progresses, the public is urged to critically assess the backgrounds and advocacies of party-list candidates to ensure that only genuine representatives of marginalized sectors are elected. ​

In response to Kontra Daya's findings, groups like the Click Party-list have expressed strong support for the call for authentic representation. They advocate for a thorough review and possible disqualification of groups that do not genuinely represent marginalized communities. ​

Notable Political Movements

The political landscape is further complicated by the re-emergence of figures like former President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces a criminal complaint for inciting violence and sedition after suggesting harm to senators during a recent rally. Additionally, human rights groups are urging voters to reject candidates with serious criminal allegations, such as Duterte and detained televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, in the upcoming elections. ​

Meanwhile, former Senator Leila de Lima, a staunch critic of Duterte, plans to return to politics after spending over six years in detention on unfounded charges. She aims to run as the lead nominee of the newly formed Mamamayang Liberal party, advocating for marginalized groups. ​

The Call for Vigilance

As the May 12 elections approach, the integrity of the party-list system remains a focal point of national discourse. Voters are encouraged to exercise vigilance, ensuring that their choices align with the original intent of the party-list system: to amplify the voices of the marginalized and underrepresented.​

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