De Lima-led party-list formalizes congressional bid

Mamamayang Liberal (ML), whose lead nominee is former Senator Leila de Lima, was among the party-lists who filed its certificate of Nomination and Certificate of Acceptance of Nomination (CONA) on Saturday.

In a press conference after the CONA filing, De Lima said ML will fight for those who were impoverished, stricken by diseases, and those who died because of the "lies of our leaders."

Among those whom they will fight for are those who were victims of POGOs and online gambling, the military men who fight for the country's sovereignty and territories.

"We will fight against systemic injustices," De Lima said.

De Lima also responded to questions related to former presidential Harry Roque, one of her feisty critics when she was detained due to drug charges and now ordered arrested by the House of Representatives.

"Alam niyo naman siguro kung anong tawag diyan...Alam niyo naman kung anong mga pinagsasabi niya tungkol sa akin and look at him now. He's on the run. Instead of facing the rule of law ay binabastos pa niya na hindi siya nagpapakita kahit dinismiss na yung kanyang writ of amparo," De Lima said.

"Siguro naman na-realize niya na kung gaano kamali 'yung mga mali na mga nasabi niya tungkol sa akin at tsaka 'yung mga ginawa niya sa akin... So really, marunong talaga ang diyos," De Lima added.

De Lima also said that Roque must heed the arrest order, especially since he is a lawyer.

"Ako nga hinarap ko kahit gawa gawang mga kaso. Hinarap ko 'yung batas. I respected the rule of law. I went through the whole process even though it is so painful and tedious on my part," she said.

"Kung wala kang kasalanan, wala kang tinatago, harapin mo nang buong tapang. Hindi 'yung nagtatapang-tapangan lang siya by means of nagla-livefeed na lang siya and then parang iniinsulto pa niya ang ating law enforcers," she added.

Roque previously maintained that he will not submit his "family's private documents."

"Asking me to submit my family’s private documents is not POGO related but a witch hunt," Roque told GMA Integrated News in a text message. 

"I refused to submit these documents because they're unrelated to the POGO inquiry," he explained. 

"I reiterate: What crime did I commit? File the appropriate charges in the proper court of law. Haharapin po ang mga reklamo sa korte," said the former presidential spokesperson.

Meanwhile, apart from De Lima, the party-list's other nominees are former congressmen Teddy Baguilat and Erin Tañada.

Apart from ML, other party-lists which seek to grab the seats of the incumbents in the House of Representatives are:

-Aktibong Kaagapay Party-list
-Construction Workers Solidarity Party-list
-Bicol Saro Party-list
-Kaunlad Pinoy Party-list
-Toda Aksyon Party-list
-Ako Bisaya Party-list
-Kilos Mamamayan Ngayon Na Party-list
-Solo Parents Party-list
-Alyansa laban sa Substance Abuse para sa Bagong Pilipinas Natin (ASAP NA) Party-list
-Ayuda sa may Kapansanan Party-list
-Pilipinas Babangong Muli (PBBM) Party-list
-Maharlikang Pilipino Party-list
-Bida Katagumpay (Bayan Itayo ang Dangal ng Agrikultura Kasama sa Tagumpay) Party-list
-Angkasangga Party-list
-Develop Agricultural Growth, Advancement and Transformation (DAGAT) Party-list
-Bayaning Tsuper (BTS) Party-list
-Tagapagtaguyod Ng Mga Reporma At Adhikaing Babalikat at Hahango Sa Mga Oportunidad Para Sa Mga Pilipino (TRABAHO) Party-list
-1 Tahanan Party-list

READ: LIST: Party-list groups eyeing House seats in Eleksyon 2025

—VAL, GMA Integrated News