Party-list system: Boon to democracy or a Frankenstein?

In the span of a single week the party-list system in the legislature has oscillated from being hailed as a “pivotal force” in the organization of the 18th Congress to being dismissed as “evil” by no less than the President of the Philippines.

Consider first the party-list’s rise as a force to reckon with in the current efforts to organize the House of Representatives prior to the inaugural session of the 18th Congress on July 22.