MANILA, Philippines — Akbayan, one of the country’s longest-serving progressive groups, officially joined the 2025 party-list race on Monday, vowing to reclaim the spot from traditional politicians and dynasties.
Speaking to the media before the group filed its certificate of nomination and acceptance, Akbayan nominee Rep. Perci Cendaña said they want to return to Congress primarily to represent the marginalized, including laborers, women, farmers, youth, LGBT, and Indigenous people among others.
“Sa ating pagbabalik sa Kongreso, may dalawa tayong pangako. Babawi tayo at may babawian tayo, babawiin natin ang party-list mula sa mga trapo at dinastiya. Babawiin natin ang partylist mula sa mga negosyante at constructor, ibabalik ang partylist para sa batayang sektor na nangangailangan ng tunay na representasyon,” said Cendaña.
(When we return to Congress, we have two promises. We will take back the party-list from traditional politicians and dynasties. We will reclaim the party-list from businessmen and constructors, and return the party list for the base sector that needs real representation.)
“Babawian natin ang mga nang abuso sa mga nasa laylayan. Babawi at babawian natin ang mga nang abuso sa mamamayan,” he later on added.
(We will take back from those who have abused the marginalized. We will reclaim and take back from those who abused the people.)
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Akbayan party-list 1st nominee Atty. Chel Diokno also faced the media, echoing Cendaña’s remarks. He pointed out that the group wants to bring to Congress what opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros has been doing in the upper chamber.
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Hontiveros has been leading a back-to-back probe into dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo’s ties to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators and embattled Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s alleged crimes.
Akbayan is Hontiveros’ political party.
“Kami po ay nais namin pong dalhin sa Kongreso ang ginagawa ni Sen. Risa Hontiveros sa Senado. Imbes na ‘yung mga ibang mambabatas dyan na ang isinusulong lang ay interes ng kanilang pamilya, kailangan natin ng mga mambabatas na makikilaban para sa ordinaryong Pilipino,” said Diokno.
(We want to bring to Congress what Sen. Risa Hontiveros is doing in the Senate. Instead of the other legislators out there who only promote the interests of their families, we need legislators who will fight for the ordinary Filipino.)
READ: Akbayan party list back in Congress, occupies seat vacated by An Waray
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