Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond Palatino expressed dismay over Commission on Election’s (COMELEC) decision today giving multimillionaire and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s son Mikey Arroyo a seat in Congress as the representative of Ang Galing Pinoy, a partylist claiming to represent security guards, taxi and jeepney drivers.
“COMELEC’s decision is a clear mockery of the partylist system. This is a grave insult to the Filipino people. We do not want, and will not allow another Arroyo in the Congress,” says Palatino.
Palatino called on COMELEC to review their decision, saying the move contradicts …

“The lack of information and the Commission on Elections’ apparent lack of enthusiasm and support for the extended voters’ registration were also to blame for the modest turnout of prospective registrants in the first days of poll registration,” Kabataan Party-list Vice President Carl Marc Ramota today said as voters’ registration marked its third and last day before the holiday break.
“Many are still unaware that voters’ registration has been extended by the Supreme Court as there has been minimal or even no information dissemination campaign by Comelec’s national and local offices. …

December registrants should be allowed to vote
Kabataan Party-list urged the Commission on Elections to be prudent and end speculation over the extended voters’ registration.
“Comelec should avoid making speculations as this will only sow confusion among prospective first-time voters,” Kabataan Party-list Vice President Carl Marc Ramota said.
The youth group was reacting to recent statements made by some Comelec officials that December registrants might not be able to vote on May 2010.
“That is downright absurd and irresponsible. December registrants and those who registered before …

“This is the best time to register for the upcoming elections as most students have already gone back to their home provinces and more work leave are given to employees.”

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino today urged the Comelec to resume voter registration within the week.
Palatino made the appeal after the Comelec said that it would file for a motion to clarify before the Supreme Court following the latter’s favorable decision to Kabataan Party-list’s petition to extend voter registration.
Citing the text of the high court’s decision, he said that since the SC ruling is immediately executory, voter registration should have resumed today and should continue ‘daily during regular office hours, except only during the period starting 120 days before a …

“We also encourage our youth and first-time voters who have not yet registered to avail of this opportunity. Let us not waste any more time.” – Kabataan Rep. Mong Palatino.

Last October 29, 2009. Kabataan Party-list, together with youth leaders from various organizations along with prospective first-time voters, went to the Supreme Court to file a petition that, if granted, would urge the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to resume the registration of voters until January 9, 2010 from its self-imposed deadline of October 31, 2009.
This petition was based on two legal bases. First, the October 31 deadline of the COMELEC is seventy (70) days short of the deadline prescribed by law under the Voters Registration Act of 1996. Second, for …

Kabataan Party-list Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino today expressed dismay over the Commission on Elections’ decision to bar Ang Ladlad Partylist from seeking congressional representation on grounds that it “tolerates immorality.”
“We feel saddened with the Comelec’s decision to dismiss Ang Ladlad’s petition. It is unfortunate that discrimination against the LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders) community is reflected in offices such as the Comelec, an agency that is expected to know what the meaning of democracy is,” said Palatino.
The young solon said he “shares the disappointment of a broad number of LGBT …

Kabataan Partylist Rep. Mong Palatino today called on the Supreme Court to immediately deliberate and compel the Commission on Elections to comply with the Voters Registration Law, mandating that continuing registration should run daily until 120 days prior to elections.
The young lawmaker filed an Urgent Petition for Certiorari and Mandamus (with Application for Preliminary Mandatory Injunction) last Friday amidst Comelec’s refusal to extend voter registration despite apparent failure to accommodate millions of new registrants until the deadline last Saturday.
“The fact that the Comelec ‘extended’ the registration until Wednesday is proof …

Under RA 8189, “No registration shall be conducted during the period starting 120 days before a regular election and 90 days before a special election.”