A PARTY list group accused of being a "front"
for Malacañang yesterday filed a counter disqualification suit
against its detractor, the Akbayan party list group.
Babae Ka (Babae para sa Kaunlaran) said
Akbayan, by receiving funds and assistance from the Friedrich
Ebert Stiftung (FES), a foundation funded by German social
democrats, violated the party list law which bans a party list
group from receiving foreign aid.
Ma. Corazon Tumang, Babae Ka third nominee,
said that they had documents to prove their allegations but
failed to show it to the media.
The German foundation has denied giving funds
to Akbayan.
"We only support non-government organizations
and labor unions. It is stipulated in our Memorandum of
Cooperation that funds are not for electoral purposes," said
Augustus Cerdeña, FES program coordinator.
The official however admitted they have been
giving funds to the Network of Young Progressives, of which
Akbayan Youth is a member.
Akbayan Rep. Loretta "Etta" Rosales on
Wednesday asked Comelec to disqualify Babae Ka and 11 party-list
groups for receiving support from the Arroyo administration.
The other groups are Akbay Pinoy, Aksa,
Barangay Association for National Advancement and Transparency (Banat),
Bantay, Kalahi, Kasangga para sa Kaunlaran, Lypad, Agbiag, Aging
Pinoy, Biyaheng Pinoy and Uni-MAD.
Banat nominee Raul Lambino said he finds it
ridiculous for Akbayan to claim that his party gets its funding
from government.
"How can they say we are receiving funds from
government when they are the ones who have access to the pork
barrel and they are getting their salaries from the government?"
Lambino asked.
The Commission on Elections en banc has ruled
that Speaker Jose de Venecia should not be disqualified over
vote buying allegations. He is running for a third term in
Pangasinan’s 4th congressional district.
"The insurance cards being given by Speaker
de Venecia are for members of his (Lakas) party or organization
so it does not constitute vote-buying," said Commissioner
Resurreccion Borra.
De Venecia had given insurance cards with P100,000 coverage.
– Gerard Naval
