THE Kabataan partylist decries the Commission on Election (Comelec) over its decision to grant the request of the ruling Liberal Party to extend the deadline for filing of Statement of Campaign Contributions and Expenditures (Soce) after Mar Roxas and the Liberal Party failed to meet the deadline set by law last June 8, 2016.
The Comelec is clearly a tool of Aquino, Roxas and their clique. They can’t bend the rules in their favor just because they’re the party in power. Shame on those commissioners who voted in favor of the extension!
Section 14 of Republic Act 7166 clearly states that the filing of Soces must be done “30 days after the day of the elections.” Comelec reiterated it in Resolution 9991 and even stressed that the June 8 deadlines shall be “final and non-extendible.” Comelec’s decision is tantamount to amending the law and the poll agency has no power to do that. That’s usurpation of power–only Congress can make and amend laws.
On Monday, we asked the Supreme Court to issue a status quo ante order that would retain the June 8 deadline. We said that Comelec “gravely abused its discretion” when it allowed Mar Roxas and his Liberal Party to file their Soces late. We argued that “there is no substantive justification for the Commission to disregard the ‘final and executory’ deadline prescribed by Section 14 of Republic Act 7166.”
The Commission en banc decided, 4-3, to extend the deadline of the filing because numerous winning candidates would be unable to sit in office. The effect would be huge, according to Comelec spokesman James Jimenez.
The issue here is whether they were able to comply with the law, not whether they were able to prepare documents in time for the deadline. If they fail to comply, then they should be penalized, even if it means disrespecting the will of the people. It would be unfair to parties and candidates who diligently abided by the rules of the Commission. That’s their responsibility in the first place. Besides, they’ve done this in the past, why fail now. Is it difficult to find justification to use public funds for your campaign, Mar? —Sarah Elago, representative, Kabataan partylist
Petty Stuff
THE National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), as the largest and most comprehensive nation-wide alliance of student councils/governments/unions committed to the advancement of the students’ democratic rights and welfare, is one with all Filipino students in protecting their freedom of self-expression by denouncing any haircut policies imposed by school administration in universities and colleges.
It is imperative for the Filipino students to unite to oppose all forms of violation of democratic rights, even in petty issues of haircuts being enforced to university and college students.
Reports regarding the act of prohibiting students with “improper” haircut circulated on social media. However, earlier this year, students in universities experienced the same oppression from their own school administrations concerning haircut and hair color. Being part of the universities’ student handbooks, the administrations of these schools are using these documents to justify the implementation of such repressive policies.
Students are neither consulted nor are they enjoined to participate in discussions regarding these so-called ‘student handbooks.’ It has always been a practice among administrations to just release a student handbook crafted by themselves, without any involvement from the ranks of the students. As a matter of fact, student governments are used merely for purposes of information dissemination.
The NUSP has been firm in its stand to oppose any violation of democratic rights, even if it includes trivial issues such as haircut policies. Such academic freedom students have been experiencing in universities and colleges are results of the militant mobilization of students led by student organizations and governments to assert their basic rights as students.
Having no inhibitions regarding hair color and haircut is essential in upholding academic freedom. A red and long hair has no direct link to academic failure or civil disobedience, so why is it that school administration is keen on opposing these students’ inherent rights? If they are for protecting the students’ academic freedom, they must start exhibiting this and repeal such policies that repress the youth’s freedom of self-determination and self-expression.
The NUSP challenges the school administrators to stop engaging in petty stuff and to start looking at the much greater sectoral fight of accessibility of education. Castro said that the administrators must start being one with the youth in their fight for free education at all levels.
Instead of advancing policies that are detrimental to the students’ rights and welfare, we are urging school administrators to enjoin us and their constituents, the Filipino students, in a much greater fight for an accessible and quality education. We must now link our arms towards our common enemy – the commercialization of education – and start championing the struggle towards an education that is genuinely for all —Kevin Castro, spokesperson, National Union of Students of the Philippines
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