The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) disapproves of using a partylist group in the name of their Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps.
One of the partylists running in this election is the 4Ps Partylist, or the “Strengthen and Grow the Filipino Economy.”
According to Atty. Paul Tacorda, they do not allow the group to use the name of the DSWD program.
The agency is now in contact with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which has the authority to revoke the registration they provided to the said partylist.
He said the group first approached the SEC as a requirement to file a candidacy with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“Ito ay nakikita nating magiging landmark issue kapag na-escalate na ito sa Commission on Elections at hukuman,” said Tacorda.
“Gumagawa tayo ng kaukulang hakbang para maireklamo at mabawi ang awtorisasyon ng nasabing organisasyon sa Securities and Exchange Commission,” he added.
Tacorda said this in conjunction with the DSWD’s signing of a memorandum of agreement with the Comelec and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to strengthen the “Bawal ang Epal Campaign,” which aims to prevent candidates from taking advantage of DSWD programs.
DSWD opposes use of partylist name ‘4Ps’
According to Tacorda, the SEC should have been careful.
“Hindi naman sila makakapag-apply sa Comelec kung hindi sila pinahintulutan…kung ating magugunita, may panuntunan o parametro para makapag-rehistro ka ng pangalan, negosyo o corporate identity kaya ang aming paniwala, dapat naging masidhi ang pananaliksik ng SEC nang tanggapin nila ang aplikasyon ng 4Ps Partylist,” explained Tacorda.
DSWD plans to pursue the complaint if the 4Ps Partylist wins the election.
“Kung sakaling makakuha ito ng mataas na boto ang nasabing organisasyon, ay atin namang gagawin ang nararapat na hakbang base sa magiging desisyon ng SEC, kung kinakailangan sa Comelec o court of law para ma-challenge ang kanilang pagkakaluklok,” said Tacorda.
The 2022 Philippine presidential and vice-presidential elections will be held on Monday, May 9, 2022, as part of the 2022 general election. This will be the 17th direct presidential election and 16th vice-presidential election in the Philippines since 1935, and the sixth sextennial presidential and vice-presidential election since 1992.
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