Joshua Garcia appears on a billboard where he was endorsing a party-list.
Joshua’s “endorsement” raised some concerns from netizens.
This came about when a Reddit user saw a billboard of Joshua while exiting the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). The billboard showed Joshua clearly endorsing the Construction Workers Solidarity (CWS) party-list.
Reacting on the billboard, the Reddit use commented, “Gets ko naman ‘di siya yung tatakbo as rep [representative], hahaha, pero why such party-list are portrayed and represented by people na ni wala namang ugnayan sa mga nire-represent nila hahaha, dami ko pang example na party-list and this one is just really plain dumb.”
Netizens echoed the same sentiment in one online website.
“Partylist system here sucks, mainly kasi it no longer has to represent solely the marginalized. It can represent basically anything.
“May mga nagigising ba sa umaga at sasabihin na ‘Iboboto ko ang CWS party-list dahil inendorso ni actor and model Joshua Garcia!’?”
While it’s true that Joshua is not a nominee of the said party-list, the actor’s image is all over the party-list’s publicity materials, like greetings and informational posts. In all of these, Joshua is billed “solid ka-CWS.”
It is reported that Luis Manzano acknowledged Joshua’s endorsement. Luis is finally dipping his fingers into the political arena by running for vice governor in Batangas.
The CWS party-list aims to uplift the working condition of construction workers in the country.
Interestingly, the party-list is represented by Rep. Edwin Gardiola, who is rumored to have hosted a lavish birthday party that featured A-list performers like Regine Velasquez, KZ Tandingan, Ogie Alcasid, Martin Nievera, Jed Madela and Darren Espanto.
In the online website repost other celebrities endorsing party-lists were Vice Ganda and Toni Gonzaga.
Vice Ganda is prominently seen in Angkasangga party-list tarpaulins which aims to protect the rights and give recognition to gig and informal workers.
Believing in the party-list vision, Vice Ganda said in a previous interview:
“It’s more than just earning; it’s about receiving the respect, security, and benefits these workers deserve.”
For her part, Toni supports Bangon Bagong Minero (BBM) party-list which aims to represent miners in Congress.
Philippine law clearly defines the role of party-lists in society and that is to “enable Filipino citizens belonging to marginalized and under-represented sectors, organizations and parties, and who lack well-defined political constituencies but who could contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation that will benefit the nation as a whole” to be represented in the Congress.
In a 2013 Supreme Court ruling, it said that party-list should not be limited to marginalized sectors.
In a high court decision it said that “National parties or organizations and regional parties or organizations do not need to organize along sectoral lines and do not need to represent ‘any marginalized and underrepresented’ sector.”
Currently, there are 156 party-list groups which seek representation at the House of Representatives for the mid-term election. (NIGEL CHAVEZ DE ESTRADA)
