Progressives file candidacies as the “alternative” to traditional politicians of the elite

Press Release
October 16, 2015

QUEZON CITY – Not to be outdone by their elitist counterparts, platform-centered candidates filed Certificates of Candidacies before the Commission of Elections (COMELEC) early morning Friday together with thousands of their members and supporters.

Running on a platform of social progress with social justice, Sanlakas partylist fielded veteran labor leader and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino chairperson Leody de Guzman as its first nominee, Cebuano lawyer Aaron Pedrosa, the coalition’s Secretary-General for its second nominee and longtime development worker Roldan Gonzales of Ozamis City as its third nominee.

Gender and climate justice advocate Flores “Oyie” Zacate a native of Sulat town in Eastern Samar and foreign policy expert Rasti Delizo were their fourth and fifth nominees respectively.

They claimed that their brand of politics defies the traditional mode that “binds the poor to further misery, exploitation and alienation from politics”.

“Sanlakas has consistently fought for the underprivileged masses, never compromising its principles no matter the political odds. We pledge to be worth every hard-earned peso taxed from wage-earners and informal workers”, said De Guzman.

“Rest assured, our nominees will fight for and remain genuine representatives of the masses”, he added.

The partylist coalition defines their platform as the concretization of the peoples’ aspirations, ranging from the broadening of their democratic rights, people-centered reform agenda and full reversal of the neo-liberal policies and programs which includes the privatization of social services, deregulation of strategic industries, trade liberalization and the contractualization of labor.

Sanlakas now combines its strength with other progressive stalwarts to form a national and nationwide force to challenge the elite’s Trapos with their own slate, bound by a common platform for reforms and social change.

The partylist accompanied senatorial candidates, Young Officers Union founder Dado Valeroso and former Representative Walden Bello in a sunrise march from Luneta to the Comelec office. Joining them were bona fide public school teachers’ partylist Ating Guro, Ang Nars and Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), their national political party.

“Despite victories for our public school teachers gained these past years, we all know that it is not enough, a seat in Congress will take us closer to reclaiming our dignity. The welfare and issues of teachers go beyond the four corners of our classrooms,” Ating Guro first nominee Benjo Basas asserted.

For his part, PLM Chairperson Sonny Melencio, urged voters to once and for all denounce elitist politics and traditional political dynasties who forced the masses settle for dole-outs and piece-meal reforms.