Kontra Daya Seeks Disqualification of Vendors Party-list for Alleged Misrepresentation

Election watchdog Kontra Daya has filed a formal complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) calling for the cancellation of the registration of the Vendors Party-list due to alleged misrepresentation by its top nominees.

In a verified petition, Kontra Daya alleged that Vendors Samahan ng mga Maninindang Pilipino (VENDORS), registered as a regional sectoral organization, does not genuinely represent the marginalized vendor sector as required under the Party-list System Act (Republic Act No. 7941).

“This is a Verified Complaint to Cancel the Registration of Vendors Samahan ng mga Maninindang Pilipino (VENDORS) as a Regional Sectoral Organization under the Party-List System in accordance with Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7941, in relation to the rules and regulations prescribed under Comelec Resolution No. 9366,” the complaint reads.

Kontra Daya convenor Danilo Arao said that based on their investigation, the party-list’s top three nominees are not vendors but business owners, which disqualifies them from representing the marginalized sector they claim to serve.

“These individuals do not belong to the vendor sector. Instead, they own businesses and have no track record of advocacy or representation for vendors,” Arao said.

The group also cited a violation of Article XIII, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution, which underscores the importance of genuine sectoral representation as part of the country’s commitment to social justice.

Kontra Daya has consistently pushed for reforms in the party-list system, warning against the increasing number of groups allegedly used as fronts by political clans and vested interests.

As of this writing, the Vendors Party-list has not issued an official response to the disqualification complaint.

Comelec has yet to announce whether it will conduct a hearing or issue a ruling on the petition in the coming weeks.