World | Philippines
Philippines left-wing politicians join senatorial race
Ocampo and Largoza-Maza, accompanied by their supporters, filed their certificates of candidacy before the Commission on Elections office in Manila
- By Gilbert P. Felongco, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 November 30, 2009
Manila: House members Satur Ocampo and Liza Largoza-Masa filed their candidacies Sunday in a move that marks the first time in more than two decades that senatorial candidates identified with the left had attempted to seek mandate on a national level.
Ocampo and Largoza-Maza, accompanied by their supporters, filed their certificates of candidacy before the Commission on Elections office in Manila early afternoon. Both lawmakers are running under the banner of Makabayan, a patriotic and pro-people coalition identified with the progressive left.
"Today, I am filing my certificate of candidacy for senator of the Republic full of hope for our people and our nation. Through the coming elections, the time is ripe to end nine years of misrule under the Arroyo administration. Our people yearn for change, and now is the perfect opportunity for us to make that change," Ocampo said in a statement.
Ocampo, who had been a member of the House of Representatives for nine years under the party-list group Bayan Muna (Nation First), said he wanted to represent the "truly poor and marginalised sector," and carry on the legacy of nationalist Senator reformers Claro M. Recto, Lorenzo Tanada and Jose W. Diokno.
Credentials
A journalist who was imprisoned during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos during the 1970s for perceived anti-government activities, he presented a political platform based progressive left-wing advocacies of genuine agrarian reform, agricultural modernisation, national industrialisation and development of a self-reliant economy free from the dictates for foreign powers.
Largoza-Maza said she would continue her advocacy for fair treatment to women. She is renowned for her activism with regard to women's issues as representative of the Gabriela Women's Party in the House of Representatives. As a legislator, she was among the authors and a sponsor of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 and a co-author of the Anti-Violence in Women and Children Act and Juvenile Justice Act.
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