Tag Archives: Senate

For genuine change: My 12 Senate Election Picks

Opinion, , , , ,

For genuine change, progressive policies, concrete solutions to the problems we are all facing, and a rejection of traditional politics, political dynasties, and personality cults. If the survey polls continue to trend the way they are, the majority, if not all, of them would lose, an outcome that I have already anticipated.

Nonetheless, there would be no regrets as I didn’t settle for the ‘lesser evil’ nor did I choose a side from the Marcos-Duterte camp that are just the current dominant factions from the same class of rotten, corrupt, murderous, and plundering politicians. This list is a rejection and defiance of the status quo; it might not be the popular choice, it may show that I’m part of the minority, but it is a reminder to everyone that there are alternatives and that there can be real change, only if we want it.

#13 Arlene Brosas

  • Educator and child rights activist
  • Represented GABRIELA Women’s Party-list in the 17th and 18th Congress. She co-authored the anti-ENDO bill, which would end the practice of labor contractualization.
  • She filed amendments to the Solo Parents Welfare Act, the Anti-Rape Law, and Electronic Violence Against Women and Children

#6 Ronnel Arambulo

  • Fisherman, environmentalist, and activist
  • He has been part of grassroots campaigns to help Filipino fisherfolk amplify their issues, especially land reclamation that damages the livelihood of fisherfolk.
  • It’s time for fishermen to have genuine representation in the Senate to address issues such as the reclamation of Manila Bay, destruction of marine habitats, oil spills, mitigating natural disasters, and asserting Filipino fishermen’s right to livelihood in the West Philippine Sea.

#16 Teddy Casiño

  • Writer, journalist, and veteran activist. His main advocacy is the lowering of prices of electricity, oil, and water, as well as the regulation of the cost of education, healthcare, mobile communications, toll fees, and other basic utilities and services.
  • He served as representative of Bayan Muna Party-list during the 15th Congress and is one of the principal authors of the laws that benefited the poor and marginalized:
    • The Public Attorneys Act of 2007 (R.A. 9406), which strengthened the Public Attorneys Office and expanded its free legal services to poor litigants
    • The Tax Relief Act of 2009 (R.A. 9504), which exempts minimum wage earners from withholding taxes
    • The Rent Control Act of 2009 (R.A. 9653), which put a cap on rent for low-income earners
    • The Anti-Torture Act of 2009 (R.A. 9745), which penalizes torture

#25 Luke Espiritu

Labor leader and lawyer, he is genuinely a new voice and perspective that is sorely needed in the Senate. His economic views call for a more active government in supporting MSMEs and wage increases for workers. He has a progressive social legislative agenda: legalization of divorce, same-sex marriage, and reproductive rights, including access to abortion.

#54 Danilo Ramos

A peasant activist from Central Luzon, he is a survivor of the 1987 Mendiola Massacre. He has been one of the leaders of the farmers’ movements, struggling for genuine agrarian reform, food self-sufficiency, and strengthening local food production. It’s time for a genuine farmer to become part of the Senate.

#17 France Castro

  • Educator and trade union activist
  • Together with other representatives from MAKABAYAN, they authored the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (RA No. 11953) that writes off P57 billion of debt of agrarian reform beneficiaries from the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
  • She is pushing to raise a national family living wage of P1,200 and P50,000 basic salary for teachers in both public and private schools.

#37 Amirah Lidasan

  • Moro activist from the Iranon tribe of Matanog and Parang, Maguindanao. Conflict in Maguindanao has made her and her family bakwit (evacuees), forcing them to relocate to Manila.
  • She is a voice for peace in Mindanao, bringing attention to US presence in Palestine and the Philippines, contributing to or worsening issues of displacement, land-grabbing and bombings. It’s time we have a Moro in the Senate.

#14 Roy Cabonegro

Environmental advocate. He calls for a more active government role in managing, financing investments, and regulating the energy sector to lower electricity rates, provide a sustainable and efficient energy supply. Our country is listed among those most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, making it crucial to have a genuine environmentalist and pro-Filipino advocate in the Senate.

#44 Liza Maza

Activist and women’s rights advocate. She is a veteran lawmaker who represented GABRIELA Women’s Party-list in the 13th and 14th Congress. She authored the following laws: the Rent Control Act of 2009 (RA 9653), The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (RA 9344), Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710), Philippine Nursing Act (RA 9173), Anti-Torture Law (RA 9745) and the Anti-Violence in Women and Children Act (RA 9262), which she co-authored.

#51 Francis Pangilinan

A lawyer and organic farmer, he is a veteran politician with a decent accomplishment during his two terms as Senator. He is the principal author of the Sagip Saka Act of 2019, which mandates government agencies to buy produce directly from farmers. He co-authored the Alternative Learning System Act, which institutionalizes the alternative learning system in basic education for out-of-school children.

#5 Bam Aquino

Social entrepreneur and politician. In his single term as Senator, he authored the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which institutionalizes free tuition and exemption from other fees in state universities and colleges (SUCs), and local universities and colleges (LUCs) in the Philippines.

#45 Heidi Mendoza

An auditor, Certified Public Accountant, and former civil servant. Had it not been for her apology and declaration to be more open to the cause of the LGBTQ+ community, I would not have included her in this list. It’s time we put a stop to the government’s penchant for “creative accounting” and realigning funds to increase the share of unprogrammed appropriations in the yearly government budget, which is nothing more than another version of pork barrel that feeds corruption and government waste at the expense of the people. Having her in the Senate would be a good step towards this end.

Duterte Impeachment – Timing is Everything

Opinion, , , , , ,

Nothing happens in the House of Representatives without the approval or support of the President. So when 215 of its members endorsed the 4th and last impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte – the largest ever number of endorsements for impeachment in the history of the House, you’d know that the Marcos administration has done its homework, chosen a plan and finally set the ball rolling.

The INC rally was supposed to be a show of force to persuade the Marcos-Romualdez bloc to maintain the status quo, but the recent SWS survey showing 41% of the public supporting the VP’s impeachment and the VP herself suffering a continuing decline to 52% trust rating was enough to convince the administration that it’s time to get it done and over with.

As it has always been in politics, timing is everything. Sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate days before Congress adjourns on Feb 8 puts pressure on Senators who are running for re-election. These Senators are not only up for re-election, but they are also perceived to be friendly to the Dutertes thus making them vulnerable: with considerable public support for the VP’s impeachment, it will be difficult to go on the campaign trail if they would be seen to be defending and voting against Sara Duterte’s removal from office. Also, the impeachment trial would take away their time from campaigning.

Additional pressure comes from the daunting prospects of going against a well-funded administration whose prospects of securing a continuation of the Marcos restoration depend on the results of the 2025 elections.

If all goes well, the Marcos-Romualdez bloc would see more compliant Senators coming in to conduct Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial and give a satisfactory verdict.

This would then give Marcos a chance to nominate his preferred VP – a tantalizing prize for those with ambitions come 2028 – Romualdez, Escudero, Poe.

Ultimately, the Dutertes once more are in the fight for their political survival.

We need a new and better Senate

Daily dose, , , , ,

The May 9 elections are clearly the most important election in a generation or even perhaps my lifetime. Next to the choice for President, my line up for the Senate is a big and strong rejection of traditional politicians and celebrities that have dominated the chamber for so long.

It is a call for new perspectives, ideas, and brands of public service that we desperately need.

These men and women of diverse backgrounds, experience, expertise, and advocacies will breathe new life into an institution that plays a vital role in our democracy.

For an independent & progressive Senate

Opinion, , , , ,

On May 13, 2019 Filipino voters would troupe to election precincts and cast their votes for 12 new Senators of the Republic. Given what the Duterte administration has done in the last three years, what it is currently doing and what it intends to do for the remaining time it is in power, the results of the Senatorial elections will be very crucial. To put it lightly but bluntly, we cannot screw up.

A quick rundown of what the key issues are: our national sovereignty up for sale with our lands, waters and other resources being offered to China; changing our Constitution to favor dictatorial and tyrannical designs and to entrench the self-serving ruling class; the imposition of more laws that will burden the poor majority; the complete restoration of the Marcoses in power; the continuing attack on journalists, activists, human rights advocates and indigenous peoples; the truth that drug lords remain free to operate while thousands of poor have died without due process.

These will get worse if candidates who are not only imcompetent and undeserving of a Senate seat and worse, who by words, deeds and legislative record would just kowtow to Duterte’s desires and designs will be elected.

It is paramount then, nay, it is our duty and obligation to use our ballots to elect a Senate that is independent and restore some sense of dignity, duty and concern for the common good in our democratic systems.

To achieve this, I urge our fellow voters to consider and support the following candidates:

Neri Colmenares

Leody De Guzman

Ernesto Arellano

Sonny Matula

Allan Montano

Chel Diokno

Erin Tanada

Samira Gutoc

Pilo Hilbay

Nancy Binay

Bam Aquino

Serge Osmena

The list is made up of men and women of principles. They have exhibited intelligence and openness to working with others across ideologies and have shown independence of mind.

Neri Colmenares is one of the most popular candidates from the opposition. A veteran of the parliament of the streets, he made his name for being a human rights lawyer himself being a victim of rights abuses during the martial law years of the Marcos dictatorship. His track record in the House of Representatives is proof that he is a champion of the poor and marginalized – increased pension for SSS, opposing unreasonable rates increase by Meralco, Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act and many more. Despite being red-tagged by the government and targeted by misinformation campaigns, Colmenares remains untainted by corruption.

From the Labor Win coalition comes Leody De Guzman who heads the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Ernesto Arellano, founder of Kilusang Mayo Uno, Sonny Matula, president of Federation of Free Workers and Labor lawyer Allan Montano. Electing them to the Senate will ensure that laws will be crafted to serve the common good and the common man. Living wages, ending ‘endo’ and strengthening unions will be much easier to achieve if these leaders would get a Senate seat. They are free of corruption and are not beholden to any oligarchs or private interests.

Samira Gutoc has really captured my interest with her fiery passion about the issues besetting Mindanao and our Muslim brothers. Chel Diokno will ensure the respect for due process and the rule of law will be on the Senate’s agenda. Erin Tanada and Pilo Hilbay will help secure and defend our sovereignty. Bam Aquino, Nancy Binay and Serge Osmena will be great assets to ensure an independent Senate.

I enjoin everyone to look into their backgrounds and track records. Their positions on the key issues enumerated earlier are worth the consideration, so much so that it would merit your vote.

Karl Marx once wrote that “The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them.” Come May 13, we get the chance to select leaders that will truly represent us and help us struggle against our own repression.