After campaign vs ‘epal’, group trains gun on ‘bopal’
By Jovan Cerda, PhilStar.com
September 28, 2012

MANILA, Philippines – A national political party representing the marginalized sector held on Friday a rally against “epal” politicians and “bopal” groups, urging the Commission on Elections to fulfill its mandate of ensuring genuine, clean and honest polls.

Partido Lakas ng Masa said its rally is meant to jumpstart its campaign against epals and bopals.

Epal is a term for credit-grabbing politicians while bopal stands for bogus party lists.

PLM said it supports the Comelec’s move to rid the elections of bopals which do not really represent the marginalized sectors.

“The party list system is designed to enable the marginalized and underrepresented sectors to secure a seat in Congress, which has long been monopolized by traditional parties and clans. Getting rid of the Bopal is a most welcome action by the Comelec,” PLM Chairman Sonny Melencio said.

“While we appreciate Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr’s recent moves against the Bopal, we ask that the process of disqualification be open and transparent to prevent the exclusion of the genuine party lists in the certification,” he added.

“Our campaign against Bopal is also our way of ensuring that the genuine partylists -those truly composed of the marginalized sectors- should have better chances of getting the Comelec certification,” Melencio said.

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