Manila, Oct. 30 -- In a recent forum conducted by Ateneo de Manila University, the topic of party list representation was discussed by a panel that included yours truly and Rep. Chel Diokno of Akbayan Party List. The issue discussed centered on whether or not the party-list system truly represents the excluded, the marginalized, and the underrepresented of the country. During the talks, it was apparent that the answer to that issue is a resounding no.
Majority of the party-list representatives are either extensions of entrenched political families, expansions of the political families into territories outside of their own, expansions of new political families, owners or families of large business owners, or a combination of these types. Pa...