Kontra Daya: Party-list system 'hijacked' by powerful groups

More than half of the 63 incoming party-list representatives in the 20th Congress do not represent marginalized sectors, according to poll watchdog Kontra Daya.

In a data set released in February 2025, Kontra Daya found that 40 of the incoming party-list lawmakers — or 63.49 percent — are affiliated with groups that have ties to political dynasties, big business, or the police and military. Some nominees also face corruption cases, promote questionable advocacies, or lack publicly available information.

Notably, the two party-list groups whose proclamations were suspended by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) — Duterte Youth and Bagong Henerasyon — were among those flagged by Kontra Daya. Both were linked to either military or business interests.

Comelec earlier suspended their proclamation due to unresolved legal issues, which the poll body aims to settle by 30 June.

Of the 54 party-list groups proclaimed as winners so far, 34 were flagged by Kontra Daya. These include 20 linked to political dynasties, nine tied to business interests, four connected to military or police institutions, three with questionable advocacies, and one with insufficient background details.

"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," said Danilo Arao, convenor of Kontra Daya.

"The rich and powerful's hijacking of the party-list system should stop," he added.