Poll watchdog to Comelec: Disqualify Vendors party-list

Metro Manila, Philippines - After flagging 86 party-list groups for failing to genuinely represent marginalized sectors, election watchdog Kontra Daya is now seeking the disqualification of one party-list claiming to represent vendors.

Kontra Daya convenor Danilo Arao filed a complaint against the Vendors Samahan ng mga Maninindang Pilipino (Vendors) party-list before the Commission on Elections on Tuesday, April 15.

The 33-page petition said the party-list “is not qualified to represent the sector for which its petition has been filed, has no bona fide intention to represent said sector, and is not qualified to run under the partylist system.”

“Vendors and its nominees further do not represent the marginalized sector of vendors, in violation of the 1987 Constitution and the declared policy of Republic Act No. 7941,” the complaint stated.

It sought to declare the party-list registration as invalid, cancel its accreditation as a sectoral organization, and disqualify it and its nominees from participating in the party-list elections.

The watchdog cited an October 2024 media interview where the group’s first nominee, Malou Lipana, admitted that aside from selling ready-to-wear clothes and other consumer goods, she also owns trading companies dealing in solar lights and construction materials, as well as a mining company with at least ₱200 million in contracts with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) last year.

The complaint stated that second nominee Florencio Pesigan, who declared himself a public relations specialist in his Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA), owns an advertising agency, as confirmed by Lipana in the same interview.

Pesigan is a former councilor in Talisay, Batangas who was previously suspended by the Ombudsman for “oppression and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service,” and was also cited by the Batangas provincial board for conduct unbecoming of a public official.

The third nominee, Sheryl Sandil, is engaged in the hardware and gasoline business, said Lipana.

Lipana admitted in the interview that she personally organized the party-list and handpicked her friends to serve as nominees.

”Vendors is obviously a front for political or business interests of the wealthy by hijacking a system meant for the marginalized and underrepresented sectors and turning it into a vehicle for their own benefits,” the complaint stated.

Facing the media after the filing, Arao - an election reform advocate and journalism professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman - said that merely including social media personality and pares vendor Deo “Diwata” Balbuena as the fourth nominee does not make the group representative of vendors.

“Kung nandoon talaga yung tunay na vendor hindi lang si Diwata bakit hindi sila ang ginawang first o second nominee,” Arao said.

“Kaya kahit manalo makakuha ng 3 upuan yung vendors hindi pa rin siya mauupo. Minsan tatanungin mo sino ang gumagamit kanino,” he added.

[Translation: If there really are genuine vendors in the group and not just Diwata, why weren't they made the first or second nominee? So even if Vendors wins and secures three seats, he still won't get to sit. Sometimes, you have to ask — who's using whom?]

“It’s a big mockery of the law, particularly the Party-list System Act of 1995 to have party-list groups like this,” Arao said.

When asked about the complaint, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body will hold a hearing and require the Vendors to submit more documents proving its advocacy.

“Ang pinakalatest po kasing desisyon ng Korte Suprema… Hindi mo kinakailangan maging miyembro ng sektor para magpresenta yung mismong sectoral organization na yun, sapat lamang na meron kang proven advocacy,” he said.

[Translation: According to the most recent Supreme Court ruling... You don't need to be a member of the sector to represent that sectoral organization — it's enough to have a proven advocacy.]

Arao said it will be a “test case” for the poll body.

“Hindi porket legal e tama na [Just because it is legal doesn’t mean it’s right],” he said.

Kontra Daya earlier released a study showing that more than half or 86 of the party-lists in the midterm polls do not represent marginalized and underrepresented sectors. Instead, many are linked to political dynasties, big businesses, the police and military, and are associated with pending corruption cases, dubious advocacies, and limited public information about their organizations.

Arao said their volunteer group is still studying the possibility of filing complaints against other party-lists.