May 19, 2025

Majority of the 63 incoming party-list representatives in the 20th Congress do not represent the marginalized and the underrepresented.

Based on Kontra Daya’s data set of party-list groups released in February 2025, 40 incoming party-list representatives (or 63.49%) were flagged as their party-list groups either belong to political dynasties, big businesses or have military/police connections. Aside from these, the party-list groups to which they belong have party-list nominees with pending corruption cases, have dubious advocacies or have limited or no information.

Interestingly, the two party-list groups whose proclamations were suspended by the COMELEC due to pending cases have been also flagged by Kontra Daya for having connections with either the military or big business.

Out of the 54 party-list groups identified by the COMELEC as winners in the party-list race, 34 of them were flagged (see Table 1).

“Let us exert public pressure on the 20th Congress to push for the passage of the anti-dynasty law and the amendment to the party-list law to make the latter truly representative of the marginalized and the underrepresented. The rich and powerful’s hijacking of the party-list system should stop,” said Danilo Arao, convenor of Kontra Daya.

For verification and more details, please contact Dr. Danilo Arao, Kontra Daya convenor (danilo.arao@up.edu.ph).