Labor leaders de Guzman, Espiritu eye Senate seats

Labor leaders Leody de Guzman and Luke Espiritu on Friday filed their certificate of candidacy (COC) for the 2025 elections, saying that the dominance of the political dynasty in the Senate has failed to address the needs of the people, especially the poor.

De Guzman and Espiritu are both running under Partido Lakas ng Masa.

"Tatakbo ako ulit kasi wala namang nagbago. Iyong mga nanalo, wala naman nagagawa para sa bayan," said de Guzman, who also ran for President in the 2022 polls but lost, said.

(I am running again because nothing has changed. Those who won have nothing to show for.)

"Andiyan pa rin ang problema ng kahirapan, mababang pasahod, mataas na kuryente, mahal na bigas. Itong mga political dynasty, trapo, elite...pagkakamal lang ng kapangyarihan at yaman ang dahilan bakit sila nandiyan," de Guzman added.

(There's still poverty, low wages, high electricity rates and expensive rice.)

Espiritu said the Senate should work for the benefit of the people.

"Isusulong namin ang interes ng mga nasa baba, ang interes ng manggagawa at maralita," Espiritu, who ran for the Senate in 2022 but lost, said.

(We'll push for the interest of those in the margins, the workers and the poor.)

"Our Senate should be an institution that we can be proud of. As it is, it is being mocked and taunted everywhere kasi hindi naman nila nasososlusyunan ang problema ng kahirapan. Ang Senado ay nagiging soap opera, for entertainment. Isang Senador ang nagsabi na importanre ang kanyang 'urges'. May nag-aaway na parang highschool. Hindi ito ang Senado na kailangan ng taumbayan," Espiritu added.

(The Senate does not address the plight of our people. It's like it exists for entertainment. One Senator talks about urges, while others fight like high schoolers. This is not the Senate that the people need.)

Other aspirants who filed their COC for the Senate on Friday were 1-Rider party-list lawmaker Bonifacio Bosita, House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar, Makati mayor Abby Binay, among others.—LDF, GMA Integrated News