Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III raised constitutional concerns on Tuesday regarding the proposed Party-List Reform Act, warning that key provisions risk diluting the system’s core purpose of providing a legislative voice to marginalized sectors.
Interpellating on Senate Bill No. 2116, Sotto—who helped pass the original Party-List System Act in 1995—noted that the execution of the law over the decades has drifted from its legislative intent.
”From the time that we passed it in 1995 up to the present, there were misinterpretations… not in conformity with the original intention that we wanted,” Sotto said.
Sotto specifically challenged the clause reserving half of all party-list seats for major national and regional political parties, arguing it compromises constitutional safeguards for grassroots representation.
”By reserving 50% of available seats for national and regional parties… does this provision not dilute the original intention of the framers of the Constitution na marginalized sector talaga ang gusto nilang bigyan ng representation sa party-list?” he asked.
”Pagka ganito… ubos ang labor, ubos ang peasants, ubos ang fisherfolk, ubos ang urban poor,” Sotto added.
In response, bill sponsor Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed openness to collaborating on refinements during the amendment period.
”Very happy to work with the good SP Pro Tempore on amendments that we could agree on to improve the bill,” Hontiveros said.
Sotto also urged colleagues to strip anti-political dynasty clauses from the measure, advising that the issue be tackled in dedicated legislation.
”Concentrate natin sa party-list, huwag natin lagyan ng anti-political dynasty provisions. There should be a different law for that,” he said.
Senate President Win Gatchalian backed the broader push to overhaul the system, reinforcing the need to safeguard marginalized groups.
”We need to give the voiceless a voice in Congress and in legislation. Marami hong dapat talaga tayong i-reforma pagdating sa party-list sector natin,” Gatchalian said.
Despite his reservations, Sotto reaffirmed his commitment to working with Hontiveros to refine the bill in alignment with constitutional objectives.