Ka Leody’s Senate slate: Labor leaders, environmentalists, rights defenders

Labor leader and presidential aspirant Leodegario “Ka Leody” de Guzman named the nine senatorial candidates included in his slate for the 2022 Philippine elections on Saturday, October 16.

Three were from his party, Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), while the other six were guest candidates.

The three from PLM included:

Luke Espiritu, labor leader
Roy Cabonegro, environmentalist
David D’angelo, environmentalist

Meanwhile, his guest candidates were the following:

Chel Diokno, human rights lawyer
Risa Hontiveros, reelectionist senator and women’s rights advocate
Neri Colmenares, human rights lawyer and former Bayan Muna representative
Elmer “Bong” Labog, trade unionist
Sonny Matula, labor lawyer
Leila de Lima, reelectionist senator and former human rights commissioner

“Di ko man kapartido ay lubos kong pinagkakatiwalaan,” De Guzman said of the guest candidates in a tweet on Saturday. (They are not my party mates but I trust them fully.)

De Guzman clarified that the senatorial aspirants he endorsed have no obligation to help in his campaign.

“Hindi ito transactional politics. Nagtitiwala ako sa kanilang hangarin para sa bayan,” the labor leader said. (This is not transactional politics. I trust in their aspirations for the country.)

Maraming nagtanong mula kahapon kung sino ang aking mga senador sa 2022. Narito ang aking personal na mungkahi. Wala silang obligasyong dalhin ang aking kandidatura. Hindi ito transactional politics. Nagtitiwala ako sa kanilang hangarin para sa bayan.
— Ka Leody de Guzman (@LeodyManggagawa) October 16, 2021

De Guzman also confirmed to Rappler that his running mate in PLM was Raquel Castillo, though she was not included in De Guzman’s social media announcement.

De Guzman has worked as a progressive labor leader and community organizer for decades.

Despite a landslide loss in the senatorial race in 2019, De Guzman filed his certificate of candidacy for president with a continued aspiration to not only change the regime, but to change the system of governance the Philippines currently has.

A social media spiel calling for volunteers for De Guzman’s campaign reads, “Atin si Leody. Mula sa masa. Lumalaban sa bilyonaryo. Samahan natin siya, isulong ang maginhawang buhay para sa lahat!“

(Leody is our own. From the masses. Fighting billionaires. Let us go with him in advocating for a comfortable life for all!) – with a report from Jairo Bolledo/Rappler.com

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