The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has challenged those claiming there are “fixers” in the poll body to substantiate their allegations.
“The poll body has always invited people, who make such allegations to come forward and substantiate (them),” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez yesterday said.
He noted there might be people who see the opportunity to earn money by promising accreditation.
“Remember the issue is not our approval process. The problem is people pretending to have an inside track and other people wanting to buy their way into the party-list system,” Jimenez stressed.
Earlier, militant party-list groups sought a legislative inquiry into reports that party-list accreditations are being sold to the highest bidder by “fixers” at the Comelec.
Bayan Muna party-list Representatives Neri Colmenares and Teodoro Casiño earlier  filed a House resolution, calling on the committee on suffrage and electoral reforms to investigate Comelec officials reportedly asking for millions of pesos in bribes in exchange for approving or facilitating the accreditation of party-list groups.
According to them, the absence of a full investigation report on cases allegedly involving Comelec officials and fixers, doubts are inevitably cast on the integrity of commission in upholding the intent of the party-list system to ensure that only qualified party-list groups are allowed to join the sectoral elections.
“Reports that Comelec officials who are asking millions from party-list applicants are making the rounds again now that the Comelec is about to decide on applications for registration. In fact, this was publicly exposed by some party-list groups in the previous elections and the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) has made some arrests,” Colmenares said.  
“The fact that a party-list group can afford millions for bribe money immediately shows that it does not belong to the poor and marginalized sectors. If we allow these fake party-list groups to buy their accreditation, then it is just a matter of time that the party-list system is completely ruled by the rich and the powerful who can afford to pay bribes and ease out genuine representatives of the people,” he added.
They also want to remove the P10,000 docket fee needed to file a disqualification case against fake party-list groups, “as it would only insulate fake party-list groups from public scrutiny and challenge.”
“A soaring filing fee of P10,000 becomes an additional deterrent for any ordinary citizen and legitimate group or organization, especially those from the marginalized and underrepresented to help weed out fake party-list groups who may again bribe their way into the party-list system. As it is right now, it is almost impossible for concerned citizens and voters to afford the docket fee,” the resolution said.
Comelec officials said they are ready to cooperate if an investigation will be conducted.                                                    PNA