Cha-cha now has support of ¾ of congressmen

Maza also joined the assault against Arroyo and Palparan saying the duo’s entry to Congress partylist representatives “shows the shameless bastardizing of the partylist system by Malacañang.”

“Since when did they represent the marginalized and underrepresented sectors?” said Maza.

On Lulu Arroyo’s proclamation as Kasangga representative, Maza said that another Arroyo in Congress will only strengthen Pres. Arroyo’s hold in the House of Representatives.

This, Maza asserted, runs counter to the Supreme Court decision in Ang Bagong Bayani, Bayan Muna vs Comelec et al, stating that the nominees of partylists must belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors.

The decision further said that “neither can the interest of those of the urban poor or the working class be fully represented by an industrialist.”

“Neither can a representative of the balut vendors come from a family that lays the golden egg,” Maza asserted.

The Gabriela solon recalled Gabriela Partylist’s exposé in 2007 of a confidential memorandum from Malacañang’s Office of External Affairs requesting P5.5 million from the Office of the President to finance pro-administration partylist groups.

“Malacañang’s propensity to use the partylist system for its own ends is now a barefaced reality. With a butcher and an Arroyo kin in the House of Representatives, the administration’s agenda is reinforced inside Congress,” said Maza.