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Eleksyon Serye: ‘Team Buo’ vs ‘Team Wasak’ sa 2025

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Sa darating na halalan natin muling masasaksihan ang malakihang tagisan ng Pambansang Demokrasya at kaaway nitong bulok na politika

Ni Nuel M. Bacarra

Minsan na akong nakatanggap ng birthday card mula sa isang pulitiko na ‘di ko na matandaan kung siya ba ay kongresista o gubernador noon. Sa aming 12 magkakapatid, hindi na nga matandaan ng nanay ko noong panahong iyon ang mga birthday naming, pero alam ng pulitikong ito ang kaarawan ko. Mayroon ding nag-alok noon ng scholarship sa akin.

Sa mga panahong iyon, malamang ay hanggang birthday pa lang ang alam ng mga pulitiko sa mga indibidwal na botante. Pero ngayon, nakatatanggap na tayo ng text messages o emails mula sa hindi mo naman talaga kilala.

Batid ng mga trapong kandidato kung paano makapang-aakit ng mga botante sa pamamagitan ng mga ayuda na di naman nanggaling sa sariling bulsa kundi sa kanilang ibinulsa mula sa kanilang pagtrato sa panunungkulan sa gubyerno bilang negosyo at sindikato. Bukod rito, kinakapital nila ang kahirapan ng mamamayang Pilipino para paamuin at suportahan sila. Ganito nila binibitag ang mga botante. Naka-database na kung lasenggo ka, sugalera ka, bulakbol o kung pwede kang maging mananayaw sa kampanya ng mga tradisyunal na pulitiko.

Hindi ba nakakainis? Sa inabot ko nang idad ngayon, tila lumalala ang kabulukan ng reaksiyonaryong halalan.

Matapos ang filing ng COC

Sa darating na Mayo 12 sa isang taon ay gaganapin ang midterm elections. Maghahalal muli ng 318 konggresista (kabilang ang partylist) at 12 senador para sa ika-20 konggreso ng Pilipinas. Gayundin, ang paghahalal sa lokal na gubyerno.

Nagsimula na nitong Oktubre 1 ang filing ng certificate of candidacy para sa mga kandidato sa pagkasenador, konggresista at mga upisyal sa lokal na gubyerno, gayundin ang filing ng certificate of nomination at certificate of acceptance of nomination para sa mga partylist. Natapos ito nitong Oktubre 8 kung saan 184 ang kandidato sa pagkasenador at 190 sa partylist ang narehistro.

Ating kilalanin ang mga kandidato para hindi tayo malinlang ng mga buladas, suhol, mga pakulo. Babaha ng pangako tulad noong 2022 na makakatikim ng murang bigas na ₱20 kada kilo na hanggang ngayon ay nakanganga ang mamamayan, o pagpawi ng droga sa bansa sa loob ng anim na buwan pero di nasawata at katunayan ay namamayagpag pa nga sa sarili nilang lugar at sangkaterba pang mga pangako at buladas. Makikita na natin muli ang mga kandidatong magmamano sa mga matatanda, hahalik sa mga sanggol, nag-aabot ng isang supot ng groceries, at live yan sa telebisyon at social media. Mayroon na nga ngayong pagkalalaking billboard sa EDSA.

Team Buo vs. Team Wasak

Para sa Senado, mayroon daw kumpletong slate ang rehimeng Marcos Jr. sa ilalim ng “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas”. Subalit hindi naman talaga ito kumpleto at buo dahil parang napapasong dumistansiya agad ang “Manang” ng Pangulo na si Senador Imee mula sa “alyansa.” Nilinaw din ni dating senador Panfilo Lacson na siya ay tumatakbong “indipendiyente”. Padron na ito na tila “uni-team” na matapos ang dalawang taon ay “Team Galit-Galit” o “Team Hiwalayan” na.

Mayroon ding mga grupo na nag-prisinta ng kanilang di-kumpletong slate. Ang grupo ng mga maka-Duterte, ang grupong pinapangunahan ni Leody de Guzman, at ang grupo ng Liberal Party na bumalik na sa pagiging maliit ang bilang matapos lamang ang walong taon simula ng administrasyong Benigno Aquino.

Pansinin din ang suson ng mga magkakapamilyang kakandidato sa buong bansa. Yung apat na magkakapatid na Tulfo ay kakandidato. Si Pangulong Marcos Jr. nga, yung kapatid at panganay na anak ay nasa pwesto. Huwag kalimutan na dalawang magkakapatid na Cayetano at Estrada/Ejercito ay nasa Senado. Layon pa rin ng mga Villar na dalawa ang uupo sa Senado dahil nais magpalitan lamang ng pwesto ang mag-inang Cynthia at Camille samantalang naka-upo rin ang napaka-tahimik na si Mark. Hindi magpapatalo ang mga Duterte dahil tatakbong mayor ang dating pangulong Rodrigo, dagdag sa naka-upong bise-presidente at kumakandidatong iba pang anak sa pagka-kongresista at bise-alkalde.

Sa buong Pilipinas ay ganito na ang kalakaran. Magkaka-pamilya, sabay-sabay na kumakandidato at malamang na manalo. Tunay ngang ginawa nang family business at sindikato ang gobyerno. Salamin lamang na ito pagpapauna ng interes ng angkan kaysa tunay na kalagayan ng mamamayan.

Ipaghihiganti ng Bayan Muna ang taumbayan mula sa mga bulok na politiko. (Larawan ni N. Bacarra/Kodao)

Tunay na oposisyo’t alternatibo

Higit na matingkad ang tunay na magkatunggaling pulitika sa darating na eleksyon. Hindi ito sa pagitan ng mga indibidwal na mga kandidato kundi sa pagitan ng mga kampon ng kasamaa’t kadiliman at kampo ng pagbabago.

Ang lumalabas ngayong pinaka-buo at kumpleto ay ang Koalisyong Makabayan na may 11 kandidato, dagdag sa apat na party-list na kasapi nito: Bayan Muna, Gabriela Women’s Party, Kabataan Youth Party at ACT Teachers Party. Hindi lamang ang bilang ng kandidato ang kakaiba sa Makabayan. Mayroon itong malinaw na pagkaka-isa at nagkaka-isang mensahe’t plataporma: ang ipagwagi ang taumbayan sa Kongreso. At kung inaasahan natin ang laglagan sa slate ng administrasyon habang papalapit ang araw ng halalan, natitiyak kong sa Makabayan natin makikita ang tunay na tulungan.

Simple lamang naman ang dahilan o ang prinsipyong tinutuntungan ng Makabayan. Ang “Bagong Pulitika” nito ay ang pulitika ng masa ng sambayanan, ang pagsalig at tiwala sa masa at hindi sa kung gaano kalaking pondo ang pakakawalan para lamang makaupo sa pwesto. Makinarya? Ang masa rin, at puhunan dito ang boluntarismo, pagkakaisa at wastong linyang pampulitika na magpapakilos sa mamamayan para isulong ang sarili nilang kapakanan na bitbit ng Makabayan.

Pambansang Demokrasya ang plataporma ng Koalisyong Makabayan na isinusulong ng mga kandidato para sa senado at partylist sa konggreso. Ito ang programang babangga sa kontrol ng dayuhan sa bansa at tutugon sa mga demokratikong kahilingan ng mamamayan. Bitbit nila adyenda ng pagtataas ng sahod o sweldo ng mga manggagawa at empleyado; prayoridad ang lokal na produksyon at kontrol sa presyo ng mga pangunahing bilhin, serbisyong panlipunan, pagpapabuti ng kalagayan ng sambayanan, mapayapang paglutas sa sigalot sa West Philippine Sea, at iba pang karapatan at kahingian ng mamamayan.

Hindi maaaring maliitin ang mga panawagang diretso sa puso ng mamamayan kahit sa karton o sako lamang ito nakasulat, mga balatenggang nakasabit sa pagitan ng mga puno ng niyog, sa may ilog, tulay, kalsada ng mga komunidad, sa mga paaralan at upisina, at iba pa.

Ito ang eleksyong mag-iiwan ng tatak sa puso ng mamamayan kung ano ang tunay kahulugan ng pambansang demokrasya at kung bakit kailangang isulong ito mamamayan. #

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ABANGAN: Sa susunod na bahagi ng seryeng ito, paghahambingin ni Ka Nuel ang mga kandidato ng Makabayan at ang mga bulok na pulitiko ng administrasyo’t kunwa-kunwaring oposisyon.

Para sa Kagyat na Ginhawa sa Taumbayan at Kasarinlan ng Bansa

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Isulong ang Pakikibaka para sa Pambansang Demokrasya!

Mensahe ni Rafael Mariano, Presidente, sa Pambansang Kumbensiyon ng Makabayan

PAGBATI sa lahat sa makasaysayan, makabuluhan at napapanahong pagtitipon sa araw na ito.

Kasama natin ang iba’t ibang sektor mula sa mga panbansa-demokratikong organisasyon, ang ating mga kaibigan at kaalyado sa makabuluhang adhikain, upang saksihan ang pormal na deklarasyon ng ating mga makabayang kandidato sa pagka-Senador para sa 2025 midterm elections.

Batid nating lahat ang reyalidad ng halalan kung saan dominado ng mga pampulitikang dinastiya at tradisyunal na pulitikong kumakatawan sa mga interes ng mga oligarkiya, panginoong maylupa, at mga dayuhang mandarambong. Marahil halos lahat sa atin ay nakasaksi na ng mga pagkwestiyon at pag-aalinlangan sa kapasidad ng Makabayan Coalition na magpatakbo ng isang buong slate sa Senado sa kabila ng maraming limitasyon lalo sa usapin ng rekurso, impluwensiya, at iba pang tradisyunal na makinarya.

Makabayan Convention 2024 (Altermidya photo)

Subalit sadyang hindi katanggap-tanggap na pababayaan na lamang natin ang mamamayang Pilipino na walang alternatibong pagpipilian sa pagitan ng nagbabanggaang kadiliman at kasamaan—sa pagitan ng nag-aagawan sa kapangyarihan na pangkating Marcos Jr. at Duterte.

Kaya ang ating inihahapag: Taumbayan naman! Taumbayan ang sadyang nararapat sa Senado.

Ano ang mga programang isusulong ng Makabayan senatorial slate?

Pangunahin ang para sa demokratikong interes ng malawak na mamamayan—ang interes ng uring magsasaka. Tunay na reporma sa lupa, alinsunod sa nakahain na sa Kongreso na Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill, kung saan ang batayang prinsipyo ng sentral na layunin ay ang libreng pamamahagi ng lupa sa mga magsasaka, at unti-unting pagpawi sa lahat ng anyo ng pyudal at malapyudal na pagsasamantala sa kanayunan.

Syempre ang pagpapaunlad ng kanayunan at magiging pundasyon para sa pagpapaunlad ng ating mga susing industriya tulad ng manupaktura, na lilikha ng sapat na trabaho para sa mamamayang Pilipino. Kaakibat ng pambansang industriyalisayon ang pagsuporta sa mga manggagawang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng pagtitiyak sa nakabubuhay na sahod, security of tenure, at iba pang karapatan sa paggawa.

Ang mga partylist ng Makabayan: Kabataan, ACT Teachers, Bayan Muna at Gabriela Women’s Party. (R. Villanueva/Kodao)

Ang ilan pang makabuluhang programa para sa iba’t-ibang sektor ay maririnig natin sa ating mga  kandidato.

Kaya sa kabuuan, bitbit ng bawat kandidato ng Makabayan ang pang-araw-araw na hinaing at adhikain ng ordinaryong Pilipino para sa mga makabuluhang pagbabagong panlipunan. Ito ang hindi natin kailanman naramdaman at hinding-hindi mararamdaman sa mahabang panahong pagkakaluklok ng iilang mga pangalan at pamilya, na ginawang negosyo at sindikato ang paggu-gubyerno.

Sa katanungang “paano tayo makikipagsabayan” sa mga kandidatong magmumula sa pamilya ng real estate developer, action star, mga patakbo ng dating Pangulo, at mga malalaking pangalan na nagnanais manumbalik sa posisyon? Narito na ang sagot. Narito sa kasalukuyang kumbensyon ang ating masisigasig na organisador, volunteer, kampanyador at propagandista, na magpapalaganap hindi lamang ng mga pangalan ng ating mga kandidato, kundi ng ating pambansa-demokratikong programa na nagtatakwil sa kasalukuyang umiiral na bulok at pahirap na sistemang panlipunan.

Ang labing-isang kandidato ng Makabayan Coalition, kasama ang Makabayan co-chairpersons Rep. Raoul Manuel at dating Rep. Satur Ocampo (R. Villanueva/Kodao)

Kaya itong ating kampanya at hindi magtatapos sa pangangalap ng boto para sa ating mga Senador at Party-list; ito ay isang malawak na kilusan at kampanyang masa, kung saan itataguyod ang pambansa-demokratikong adhikain ng masang anakpawis higit pa sa panahon ng kampanyang elektoral.

Bilang panghuli, hamon sa bawat isa sa atin ang higit pang pagpupursigi at kasigasigan para sa pagpapalawak ng ating mga kasapian sa maraming Komunidad, sakahan, pagawaan, eskwelahan, at sa lahat ng konsentrasyon, na magiging balon ng ating mga volunteer hanggang sa buong-panahong  kikilos at mangangampanya para sa ating mga kandidato at programa.

Isulong ang bagong pulitika, ang pulitika ng pagbabago. Taumbayan naman! Taumbayan ang higit na nararapat sa Senado! #  

Makabayan urges accountability after Quiboloy’s arrest

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Progressive parties and legislators long under fire by fugitive Apollo Quiboloy urged the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government to ensure the accused rapist and smuggler is held accountable and not given preferential treatment.

In separate statements, Bayan Muna and other Makabayan coalition members ACT Teachers’ Party, Gabriela Women’s Party and Kabataan Youth Party welcomed Quiboloy’s arrest Sunday afternoon, September 8.

Bayan Muna executive vice president Karlos Zarate said justice must prevail, but cautioned that Quiboloy should not be used as a political trophy in the escalating feud between the Marcos and Duterte political dynasties.

Quiboloy is a known cohort of former president Rodrigo Duterte whose arrest is suspected by many as part of the Marcos administration’s ongoing tiff with its erstwhile allies.

The self-proclaimed “owner of the universe” endorsed the Marcos-Duterte “uniteam” in the 2022 presidential elections.

After receiving an ultimatum from the Philippine National Police (PNP) after a 15-day siege of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City, Quiboloy reportedly “surrendered” to the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that sent a C130 military cargo plane to fetch the so-called pastor and several of his co-accused.

Quiboloy was taken to the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame Sunday night.

His lawyer claimed the KOJC leader”surrendered” because his “dislike for violence.”

‘Justice for the victims’

As critics of Duterte, Quiboloy used his media corporation Sonshine Media Network International to red-tag and continuously batter the Makabayan coalition.

ACT Rep. France Castro Calls called for Quiboloy’s prosecution both in the country and in the United States of America where he is also accused of grave crimes.

Part of the poster issued by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation against the self-appointed son of god. (FBI image)

“The arrest of Apollo Quiboloy must lead to his full accountability before the law. The charges against him, both in the United States and the Philippines, are grave and demand thorough investigation and prosecution,” Castro said.

She added that his “number one protector” (Duterte) and all those who have enabled his evasion from justice,” should also be investigated.

Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas echoed Castro’s sentiment, saying the Marcos government must not only focus on Quiboloy but also investigate those who aided him during his time in hiding.

“This includes a thorough investigation into any possible involvement of individuals in positions of power who may have shielded him from accountability,” she said.

Brosas said the child abuse, sexual abuse and qualified trafficking charges against the self-styled “appointed son of god” has caused immeasurable harm to his victims, and he must be brought to justice without delay.

“Let this be a reminder to Quiboloy that he is not a God. Harapin niya ngayon ang taumbayan,” Brosas said. (He not must face the people.)

Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel also demanded justice for the reported victims of Quiboloy’s alleged criminal activities and an investigation on the protection provided him by the Duterte clan, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, and others.

Manuel said the people should be vigilant in ensuring accountability for the likes of Quiboloy.

“[W]ala pala sa ‘langit’ itong ‘Appointed Son of God,’” Manuel added. (This ‘appointed son of god’ is not in not in heaven after all.)

Former Bayan Muna and Gabriela Rep. Lisa Maza also urged for justice after Quiboloy’s arrest, “…para makakuha ng hustisya ang mga kababaihan at bata na kanyang naging biktima sa salang trafficking at pang-aabuso.” (For his women and children victims to receive justice for his trafficking and abuse crimes.)

The Makabayan candidate for Senate also called for an investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte’s efforts to mislead authorities about Quiboloy’s whereabouts.

The vice president said in an earlier interview that Quiboloy may no longer be in Davao City.

“Imbestigahan din si dating Presidente Duterte sa pag-aming alam niya kung nasaan ang puganteng si Quiboloy pero di nakipagtulungan sa pulisya para mahuli ito,” Maza said. (Also investigate former President Duterte for admitting knowing where the fugitive Quiboloy was but refusing to cooperate with the police for his capture.)

The protracted police siege of Quiboloy’s hideout, the KOJC compound in Davao City (Davato Today photo)

‘Investigate the siege’

Meanwhile, Zarate  expressed grave concern over the “alleged excessive force, reported abuses and overreach” by the police during the implementation of Quiboloy’s arrest warrant, warning that such actions could set a dangerous precedent.

KOJC members have accused the police and the Marcos government of using excessive force in serving the arrest warrant, involving repeated deployment of battalions of police personnel, the last siege lasting more than two weeks.

“The police’s excessive force and overreach in the supposed implementation of the arrest warrant should be investigated as it can be used as a dangerous precedent against perceived critics of the present administration,” Zarate said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

‘Mananatili kaming tapat na ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan’

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“Ang kabataan po ay patong-patong na ang mga umuusbong na suliranin dulot ng bagong learning set-up. Ang mga ito ang dapat na inuuna ng administrasyon sa gitna ng pandemya at mga sakuna, hindi ang mga walang-awa at mga malisyosong atake. Makakaasa kayo na patuloy na ipaglalaban ng kabataan at estudyante ang aming karapatan gayundin ang kapakanan ng sambayanan. Mananatili kaming tapat sa kasabihan na ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.” — Sarah Elago, Representative, Kabataan Party-list

Kabataan, ipagpapatuloy ang laban na nasimulan noong martial law

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Sa pagkilos ng mga kabataan sa harap ng Commission on Human Rights sa ika-48 anibersaryo ng martial law noong nakaraang Lunes, Setyembre 21, nagpahayag si Regina Tolentino, deputy secretary general ng College Editors Guild of the Philippines o CEGP, na nais ipagpatuloy ng mga kabataan ang pakikibaka noong panahon ng batas militar.

Ito aniya ay dahil walang pinag-kaiba ang kasalukuyang rehimen ni Pangulong Duterte sa panahon ni Marcos sa isyu ng karapatang pantao at usaping panlipunan.

Makabayan bloc opens 18th Congress with 67 bills, resos

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The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives (HOR) got off to its usual running start and filed 67 bills and resolutions on the opening day of the 18th Congress Monday.

While their colleagues, including other party list representatives, are busy with infighting for the speakership of the HOR, the Leftist lawmakers submitted both new and their old legislative measures and made sure they are among the first to file them.

Makabayan legislative staffmembers were among the first to line up at the HORS’s Bills and Index Service office very early yesterday morning to increase their chance of an early first reading of their measures and referral by the Speaker to their appropriate committees.

Bayan Muna filed 30 bills and resolutions ranging from agrarian refom, human rights, social pension, lowering of prices of basic commodities, wage increases, social services to political reforms.

ACT Teachers Party filed 17 bills and resolutions ranging from salary increases, social services, government services reforms to freedom of information.

Kabataan Party for its part filed 10 bills, mostly on youth and student rights.

Gabriela Women’s Party for its part filed 10 bills and resolutions that the group said seek to uplift women from economic woes and abuse.

Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas said their party prioritizes the repeal of the Rice Tariffication Law due to its disastrous impact on farmers and poor households, as well as measures that seek to end violence against women and children.

“Rice tariffication law sets forth the sharp drop in the farmgate prices of palay which threatens the livelihood of our farmers, as well as the phaseout of the cheaper NFA rice which poor Filipino families rely on. That’s why we want to immediately repeal the law to provide relief to millions of Filipino families,” she said.

“As an alternative, we have filed the Rice Industry Development Act previously filed by Anakpawis Partylist to ensure sufficient support for Filipino farmers and to mandate the identification of rice zones across the country to boost local rice production,” she added.

ACT Teachers Party Rep. France Castro for her part revealed that their 17 bills are bannered by their teachers salary increase bill she said is long overdue.

“We strongly urge the incoming House Leadership to immediately hear and pass the bill increasing the salaries of teachers and other government employees. Similarly, we call on our fellow legislators in both houses of Congress to champion this cause,” Castro said.

This morning, Bayan Muna filed its 31st measure, a resolution calling for an investigation on the violations of labor rights by detergent manufacturer Peerless Products Manufacturing Corporation, following the series of bloody attacks company guards inflicted on its striking workers.

List of bills

Bayan Muna:

1. Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill
2. Human Rights Defenders Bill
3. 2nd Tranche of SSS pension increase
4. Increasing Social Pension
5. Genuine Partylist Group and Nominee Act
6. Repeal TRAIN Law
7. Renationalization of Petron
8. Investigation of the Recto Bank Incident
9. Unbundling of Oil Prices
10. ₱750 National Minimum Wage
11. ₱16,000 Minimum Wage for Government Employees
12. Anti-Privatization of Health Services
13. Free Hemodialysis
14. Anti-Political Dynasty
15. Investigation on Water Privatization
16. Investigation on the Killings in Bicol
17. Investigation on Electoral-Related Harassments
18. Security of Tenure and Substitute Civil Service Eligibility
19. No VAT in Electricity
20. No Vat in Systems Loss
21. People’s Mining Bill
22. Genuine Small Coco Farmer’s Fund
23. Investigation on impacts of agribusiness to agrarian reform beneficiaries
24. No VAT in Water
25. Manila Bay as Reclamation-Free Zone
26. No Mining Zones
27. SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression) Bill
28. Investigation on HRVs related to Memo 32 
29. Investigation on Kaliwa Dam Project
30. Moratorium on Coal-Fired Power Plants

ACT Teachers Party-List:

  1. HB 219 – salary increase for public school teachers and other government employees
  2. HB 220 – The Teacher Protection Act of 2019
  3. HB 221 – lowering the optional retirement age of government employees
  4. HB 222 – The Teaching Supplies Allowance Act of 2019
  5. HB 223 – mandatori na mga yunit ng Filipino at Panitikan sa kolehiyo
  6. HB 224 – Act Mandating Free Health Services for the People
  7. HB 225 – exempting from taxation all amounts granted to persons rendering election service for national and local elections
  8. HB 226 – The Freedom of Information Act
  9. HB 227 – The Public School Class Size Law
  10. HB 228 – The Revised GSIS Act of 2019
  11. HB 508 – shorter probationary period of teaching and non-teaching personnel in private schools
  12. HB 509 – guidance counselors in public schools
  13. HB 510 – repealing the anti-professional CPD Act of 2016
  14. HB 511 – The COMELEC Reorganization Act
  15. HB 512 – expanded paternity leave
  16. HB 513 – National Education Support Personnel Day
  17. HR 20 – inquiry in aid of legislation into the status of implementation of the K to 12 Program

Kabataan Party:

  1. Students Rights
  2. Campus Press Freedom
  3. University Services
  4. Human Rights Education
  5. Anti-No Permit No Exam
  6. FQS Day and FQS@50
  7. National Youth Day
  8. Mandatory Bonifacio Subject
  9. National Filipino Youth Museum
  10. Philippine Cinema Appreciation

Gabriela Women’s Party:

  1. Repeal of the Rice Tariffication Law
  2. Rice Industry Development
  3. Magna Carta for Daycare Workers
  4. Amendments to the Solo Parents Welfare Act
  5. Repeal of VAT on oil and other products
  6. Resolution seeking to review the concession agreement of the MWSS
  7. Amendments to the Anti-Rape Law 
  8. Electronic Violence Against Women and Children (EVAWC) 
  9. Repeal of the Human Security Act (HSA)
  10. Divorce bill

The progressive parties said the 67 bills are just their initial submissions. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Makabayan bloc set to win 6 seats

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The Makabayan bloc may still get as many as six seats in the House of Representatives as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) is set to proclaim the winners of the party list race tonight.

Despite relentless harassment and vilification by the military and police throughout the campaign period up to election day last May 13, the progressive parties amassed a total of 2,236,155 votes that may give the bloc up to six seats in the 18th Congress, just one less than its current number of representatives.

Bayan Muna is set to have three seats after garnering 1,117,403 votes representing 4.01% of all party list votes cast.  

It placed second behind high-spending ACT-CIS Party, the only other party to win three seats.

Gabriela Women’s Party placed 12th in the race, garnering 449,440 votes representing 1.61% of all party list votes cast and winning one seat.

ACT Teachers Party came close behind at 15th place, with 395,327 votes representing 1.42% of all party list votes cast and winning one seat.

Gabriela Womens’ and ACT Teachers’ each have two sitting representatives in the current 17th Congress.

Both groups are the only parties in their respective sectors elected to any legislature in the entire world.

At 51st place and the last group to win a seat is Kabataan Party, garnering 196,385 votes representing 0.70% of all party list votes cast.

Anakpawis, however, failed to win a seat, placing at 62nd place with 146,511 votes representing 0.53% of all party list votes cast.

The NBOC is set to proclaim all 51 winning parties at seven o’clock tonight at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Gabriela Womens’ Party has two seats, ACT Teachers Party has two more while Bayan Muna, Kabataan and Anakpawis have one each in the current 17th Congress.

The bloc lost one seat in May 13’s elections.

Relentless attacks

Earlier, the Makabayan Bloc complained of threats and harassments of its campaigners, members and supporters by the military and police.

A massive “zero vote” was also launched in Mindanao prior to the elections while Davao City mayor Sara Duterte openly called on her constituents not to vote for Makabayan parties.

Makabayan members also suffered two massacres in Negros Island and arrests of supporters in Bulacan and Bohol whiles its supporters were prevented from voting in several regions across the country.

On election day last May 13, Philippine National Police officers distributed newsletters tagging Makabayan parties as communist fronts.

 “Despite many reports of fraud, the Rodrigo Duterte regime cannot defeat the people’s will,” Bayan Muna second nominee Ferdinand Gaite earlier told Kodao. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Protesta ng mga aktibista kontra sa malawakang pandaraya sa halalang 2019

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Nagtungo sa Commission on Elections o COMELEC ang iba’t-ibang grupo para magprotesta kaugnay sa naganap na dayaan sa nakaraang eleksyon noong Mayo 13.

Ayon sa Bayan Muna, dapat ipaliwanag ng COMELEC kung bakit madaming pumalya at nagka-aberya na precint count optical scan o PCOS machine sa ibat-ibang presinto. Marami ring reklamo ng vote buying, pananakot at paninira laban sa mga progresibong partylist at kandidato.

Nais nila na managot ang COMELEC dahil sa kapalpakan nito sa pangangasiwa ng eleksyon. Hinayaan din umano nito na makapamayagpag ang administrasyon at magbuhos ng rekurso ng taumbayan para manalo lalo na sa Senado.

Nauna namang nagprotesta ang mga kabataan sa Philippine International Convention Center o PICC noong Mayo 13 dahil sa napaulat na paninira ng PNP sa mga progresibong partylist. Iniulat na namamahagi ng babasahin ang ilang pulis sa mga botante na laban sa mga nasabing partylist. (Bidyo ni: Joseph Cuevas/ Kodao)

Makabayan files bill seeking exemption of journalists from anti-drug ops

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The Makabayan Bloc at the House of Representatives filed a bill seeking the exemption of journalists from acting as witnesses in police anti-drug operations.

House Bill 8832 was filed Wednesday by ACT Teachers’ Party Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro, Gabriela Reps. Arlene Brosas and Emmi de Jesus, Anakpawis Party Rep. Ariel Casilao, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate and Kabataan Party Rep. Sarah Elago together with National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) officers.

The bill seeks to amend Section 1 of Republic Act 10640, otherwise known as “An Act to Further Strengthen the Anti-Drug campaign of the Government,” which orders that journalists act as “optional witnesses” to drug operations.

The law amended section 21 of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,” which earlier ordered that journalists act as mandatory witnesses to the police inventory of seized items in drug operations, along with elected officials and members of the National Proecution Service.

HB 8832 stemmed from an ongoing NUJP campaign against ordering journalists to as witnesses to police anti-drug operations.

According to the NUJP, journalists throughout the country report that law enforcement units continue requiring them to sign on as witnesses, often as a condition for being allowed to cover anti-drug operations.

“Worse, there are reports that they are made to sign even if they did not actually witness the operation or the inventory of seized items,” the NUJP’s “Sign Against the Sign” campaign said.

Journalists who decline can find their sources or the normal channels of information no longer accessible, the media group added.

HB 8832 said that aside from the obvious coercion and attempts to control information of vital interest to the public, the media’s opposition to this practice also stems from the fact that it unnecessarily places journalists at risk of retaliation from crime syndicates, on the one hand, and exposes them to prosecution for perjury and other offenses in the event of irregularities in the conduct of anti-drug operations, on the other.

The proposed measure said that journalists must be protected from harm and the anti-drug laws must help ensure that reportage on the government’s anti-drug operations must remain objective and factual.

Rep. Tinion said the Makabayan Bloc will ask Committee on Public Information chairperson Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar to schedule a hearing on the bill as soon as possible.

The NUJP for its part will ask Senate Committee on Public Information chairperson Senator Grace Poe to file a counterpart in the Senate. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Makabayan to field Neri in next year’s Senate race

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The Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan o MAKABAYAN held its fourth National Convention at the  Quezon City Sports Club last September 25, unanimously voting to again field former Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmanares in the 2019 Senate race.

Themed “Bagong Pulitika, Demokrasya Hindi Diktadurya,” Makabayan said it aims to win not only in the next elections but also defeat Rodrigo Duterte’ s looming dictatorship and tyranny.

MAKABAYAN also presented nominees from its member parties—Gabriela Womens Party, ACT Teachers Party, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Kabataan.

It also announced Newly formed member parties—Manggagawa Party, Aksyon Health Workers Party, and Peoples Surge Party.  (Video and report by Joseph Cuevas)