The country’s youth party presented 10 leaders as nominees in next year’s national elections, led by scholars from three of best universities of the land.

In its eighth national convention at the National Cathedral of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente in Manila on Tuesday, September 24, Kabataan Partylist (KPL) said its nominees are led by young lawyer Renee Co from the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman.

KPL’s national executive vice president Co was editor in chief of Sinag, UP-Diliman College of Social Sciences and Philosophy in her undergraduate days. She also served as the national university’s Student Regent.

As a student, Co was convenor of the UP Movement Against Charter Change, chairperson of the Defend UP Network, and 1Sambayan convenor representing the youth in the national alliance.

Another summa cum laude graduate is KPL’s second nominee in Jose Paolo Echavez, who is the party’s vice president for the Visayas.

Like incumbent KPL Rep. Raoul Manuel, who was also a summa cum laude graduate of UP-Visayas, Echavez earned the highest student academic honor from the prestigious Silliman University in Dumaguete City.

He was University Student Council president who graduated with a degree in agriculture and ranked number two in the Agricultural Licensure Examinations administed by the Professional Regulation Commission.

Another Student Regent is KPL’s third nominee who is from UP-Los Baños.

Peter Angelo Garcia is KPL Southern Tagalog chairperson, Youth Advocates for Peace with Justice-Los Baos Convenor, Defend UP Network paralegal, and Karapatan-Timog Katagalugan Organizing co-head.

Since it first winning a seat in 2007, KPL has fielded former UP-Diliman Student Council President Raymond Palatino, lawyer Terry Ridon, UP student leader Sarah Jane Elago, and Manuel.

A member of the Makabayan Coalition of progressive parties, KPL is known for its pro-youth and pro-people legislation and anti-corruption advocacy in and outside the House of Representatives.

 Anti-abuse, anti-corruption

In its national convention, KPL also passed a resolution condemning the “rotten politics of the fracturing Marcos-Duterte alliance” and advancing the alternative politics of struggle and hope.

KPL said it condemns the Marcos and Duterte political dynasties for their “self-serving politics, corruption, and human rights abuses.

The only youth party in power in the country said the toiling Filipino masses shall hold these two families accountable for their “crimes against the people.”

The group called on their fellow youth and the broader public to expose the “theatrics” of the Marcos and Duterte factions and reject the dynasties’ rotten politics “that breeds this brand of traditional politicians, and to actually unite in the pursuit of genuine social change, justice, and progress for the Philippines.“

The convention also approved KPL’s 10-point youth agenda and another resolution endorsing Makabayan’s senatorial slate to the Filipino youth.

The 200 delegates ended their convention with a protest rally in front of nearby Philippine General Hospital to oppose budget cuts against education and social services, to call for the abolition of confidential funds and to investigate and hold accountable top officials for potential corruption.

The protesters also called for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte for her “misuse of public funds” and her refusal to explain herself before Congress.

“The youth will not allow itself to be dragged down the fractious Marcos-Duterte Uniteam. Our election run will be predicated on advancing a long needed alternative to their trapo (traditional politics) and self serving politics,” Co said.

KPL said that as “first, sole, and genuine representation of the youth in Congress,” it vows to continue championing the rights and interests of the Filipino youth and advancing the politics of struggle and hope. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)