Akbayan party-list seeks House seat anew with Chel Diokno as first nominee

Akbayan party-list led by its first nominee, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, on Monday filed its certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) for the 2025 elections.

Diokno, accompanied by fellow nominees incumbent Akbayan party-list Representative Perci Cendaña and Dadah Ismula, said Akbayan will take inspiration from one of its ranks, former Akbayan party-list lawmaker and now Senator Risa Hontiveros, in the anti-corruption fight given the latter's lead role in investigations in aid of legislation.

“If not for Senator Risa, we would not have known about POGO-related crimes and we would not have a POGO ban. If not for Senator Risa, we would not know about what is happening in KOJC and Quiboloy would not have been captured,” Diokno said.

POGO means Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators while Apollo Quiboloy is the leader of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church who is facing at least two counts of child abuse and one count of qualified human trafficking charges. Quiboloy is also facing alleged conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling charges in the United States.

“Nais ko pong dalhin sa Kongreso ang ginagawa ni Senator Risa sa Senado. Imbes na iyong mga mambabatas ay isinusulong ang interes ng kanilang pamilya, kailangan natin ng mga mambabatas na makikipaglaban para sa ordinaryong Pilipino,” Diokno said.

(I want to bring to Congress what Senator Risa is doing at the Senate. Instead of having lawmakers pushing for their families' interests, we need lawmakers who will fight for the ordinary Filipino.)

"Solid ang track record ng Akbayan party-list. Naniniwala tayo na ang tunay ng kapangyarihan ay pwersa ng mamamayan,” he added.

(Akbayan party-list has a solid track record. We believe that true power lies in the hands of citizens.)

OFW party-list Representative Marissa Magsino also filed CONA for reelection on Monday, saying she will continue to advocate for seafarers just like how she authored the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers which was enacted into law.

"We will continue the fight against illegal recruiters and those in human trafficking syndicates," Magsino told reporters.

Other party-list groups which filed CONA on Monday include:

• Ako Bicol;
• Ako Ilocano Ako;
• Bisaya Gyud;
• Heal;
• 1-Munti;
• People's champ; and
• Help Pilipinas, among others.

Aspirants for elective positions and party-list groups eyeing House seats have until Tuesday, October 8, to file their certificates of candidacy and CONAs for the midterm May 2025 elections. —KG, GMA Integrated News