Members of the Socialista group staged a protest outside the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office in Intramuros, Manila on Wednesday raising concerns over the perceived dilution of the partylist system’s original purpose.

According to the group, the partylist system, intended to represent marginalized and underrepresented sectors, has been overshadowed by political dynasties and traditional politicians.

In a statement, Socialista claimed that the current COMELEC standards and requirements allow politicians with established backgrounds, including former district representatives and local government officials, to participate in the party-list race. This, the group argued, has resulted in a majority of the 156 approved partylists being linked to wealthy businessmen or influential families, rather than genuine grassroots organizations.

Socialista spokesperson Eding Villasin pointed to Republic Act No. 7941, or the Party-List System Act, which aims to provide congressional seats for marginalized sectors, such as workers, farmers, youth, indigenous peoples, and senior citizens. He claimed that the intent of this law is undermined by the current setup.