POLITICAL DERBY?
Cockers enter party-list contest
By Kristine L. Alave
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:42:00 08/18/2009
MANILA, Philippines—Now you can really call it a political “derby.”
A group claiming to represent cockfighting aficionados was among the organizations that have asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for a slot in next year’s party-list race.
When told that a group called “Alyansa ng mga Sabungero” had beaten Monday’s deadline for registration, Comelec Chair Jose Melo was dumbfounded.
“A group of cockfighters? Why are they [considered] marginalized when they have the money?” Melo said.
According to a four-page petition that the group filed with the poll body, Alyansa is seeking a congressional seat on behalf of workers in the cockfighting industry, such as the kristo (bet taker), kasador (bet manager), asistante (assistant), takilyero (ticket dispenser) and backyard breeders.
The group said its members could be considered marginalized because “they live a hand-to-mouth existence, earning only if the tahor (cockfighting expert) they work for wins.”
Alyansa identified its president as Nid Amad and said the group is based in Sucat, Parañaque City.
A Comelec employee tasked with receiving the petitions said the group submitted incomplete documents yet insisted that the Comelec accept Alyansa’s papers.