Makabayan coalition announces nominees for Eleksyon 2022

The Makabayan coalition, composed of minority lawmakers and progressive parties, on Monday disclosed their nominees for Eleksyon 2022 three days before the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy in October.

During the Makabayan coalition's fifth national convention, the following groups introduced their nominees:

Anakpawis party-list

• 1st nominee - Rafael Mariano - former Agrarian Reform Secretary from 2016 to 2017, and chairperson of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
• 2nd nominee - Lana Linaban
• 3rd nominee - Francisco Doy Marizeta
• 4th nominee - Isabelo Adviento
• 5th nominee - Reyneiro Maarat

Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) 

• 1st nominee - Francisca Castro - first public teacher who turned lawmaker and current representative of ACT party-list
• 2nd nominee - Antonio Tinio
• 3rd nominee - David San Juan
• 4th nominee - Helene Dimaukom
• 5th nominee Fabian Halig

Gabriela Women's party-list:

• 1st nominee - Arlene Brosas - assistant minority leader of Gabriela party-list in the 18th Congress
• 2nd nominee - Dr. Jean Lindo
• 3rd nominee - Lucy Francisco
• 4th nominee - Leticia Castillo
• 5th nominee - Della Moratalla
• 6th nominee -  Jenelyn Caballero

The Bayan Muna party-list as well as the Kabataan party-list already announced their respective nominees for next year's elections. 

Makabayan new set of officers

The Makabayan bloc also elected a new set of officers to serve from 2022 to 2025:

• President - Saturnino Ocampo
• Vice President- Antonio Tinio
• Co-chairperson - Neri Colmenares
• Co-chairperson -Liza Maza
• Co-chairperson -Rafael Mariano
• Vice Chairperson - Carlos Zarate
• VP for Luzon - Aurora Santiaga
• VP for Visayas - John Ruiz
• VP for Mindanao - Ariel Casilao
• Secretary General - Nathaneal Santiago
• Deputy Secretary General - Robert de Castro
• Treasurer - Cynthia Vargas
• Auditor - Yvonne Luna
• Director for Political Affairs - Grace Saguinsin
• Director for International Affairs - Sarah Jane Elago
• Director for Organization - Ayna Punzalan

Newly elected Makabayan coalition president Ocampo, for his part, warned against the return of the Duterte administration in 2022, adding that the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte is similar to the injustices during the Marcos regime, which imposed Martial Law.

He also cited the Duterte administration's role in allowing former dictator Ferdinand Marcos' burial at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani in Taguig City.

"Sa 2022, magkaroon ng tambalang Duterte, Marcos... Kung dumaan ang labing apat na taon bago naibagsak ang diktaduryang Marcos, ngayon, palang puwede na natin pigilan ang pagsidhi ng kundisyong tulad ng martial law," he said during the convention.

(In 2022, there could be Duterte-Marcos tandem... If it took 14 years to stop the Marcos dictatorship, we can still stop the threat of martial law as early as today.)

Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo praised the service of Makabayan bloc's vow to serve the public as she welcomed the new set of nominees for Makabayan bloc.

"Habang lumalaki ang pagsubok na kinakaharap natin, lumalakas ang tawag sa inyong maging masigasig sa kolektibong pagkilos sa hangarin na nagbubuklod sa atin bilang mga Pilipino—ang matino at mahusay ng pamamahala na magbubunga ng ginhawa sa komunidad," said Robredo in a recorded video message during the convention.

(As we face more challenges, your call for a better government  and better service for the community gets louder.) — BM, GMA News