Akbayan Party slams Dutertes’ Senate bid as ‘fake opposition’

Akbayan Party positioned itself on Thursday as the main opposition for the 2025 midterm elections at the party’s 9th Congress with a theme “Atin ang Bukas.” (Photo courtesy of Akbayan Party)

MANILA, Philippines — The Akbayan Party on Thursday asserted itself as the main and real opposition for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections, calling the Dutertes’ plan to run for Senate as “fake opposition.”

Akbayan Party President Rafaela David said that their Senate bets are the real opposition.

“Sa listahan ng Magic 12 kung saan puro listahan ng magkakapatid, magnanay, sikat na pangalan ang nakalista, magpapasok tayo ng tunay na kapanalig natin. Hindi na tulad ng pekeng oposisyon ng tatlong mag-anak galing sa isang pamilya down south na alam naman nating puro drama lang ang gagawin sa Senado,” David noted.

(In the list of Magic 12 which is full of siblings, mother and child, and famous personalities, we will send our true allies. This is not like the fake opposition of the three relatives from a family down south that we know will just bring drama in the Senate.)

Last June, Vice President Sara Duterte made a pronouncement that her two brothers, Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte and Davao 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, will seek senatorial seats next year.

READ: VP Duterte: My father, brothers will run for senator in 2025

However, the vice president rejected the tag of ‘opposition leader’ following her resignation from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet.

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros, Akbayan’s national chairperson, mentioned that the atrocities committed by Rodrigo Duterte will remain a nightmare as long as his daughter remains in power.

“Ang kadiliman noong panahon niya ay talaga nga namang nanuot sa ating lipunan, parang mantsa na mahirap tanggalin. At habang ang anak niya ay may kapangyarihan pa, hindi magiging madali ang ating laban,” she said.

(The nightmare during Duterte’s term persisted in the society and is like a stain difficult to erase. And while his daughter is still in power, our fight will never be easy.)

“While VP Sara is in power, the threat of a full-blown Duterte comeback is still a present danger. For one, they are supported by one major superpower: China,” the senator added.

Akbayan’s key efforts, allies

David also touted the initiatives and measures taken by the party such as deploying civilian forces in the West Philippine Sea; championing the SOGIE bill, the Mental Health Law, the expanded maternity leave law; and leading the fight against Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos).

Hontiveros is leading the investigations into illegal activities by Pogos and is also the author and principal sponsor of the Mental Health Law and the expanded maternity leave law.

Furthermore, the party’s 9th National Congress brought together hundreds of delegates across the country, allies from foreign sister groups, and opposition figures such as Hontiveros, former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, and former Commission on Human Rights chairperson Etta Rosales. According to David, the party has over 25,000 official members from the country.

Rosales said that the party is committed to its principles as the 2025 elections are fast approaching. She added that “we must confront the forces of oppression and inequality with courage and conviction, ensuring that the tomorrow we envision is one of fairness, dignity, and opportunity for all.”

Furthermore, Pangilinan expressed his support for the party, commending the pressing issues and measures tackled by David and Hontiveros in their speech.

“This party and the Liberal Party in which I am currently the chairperson have been coalition partners for a decade and a half, 15 years, strengthened even further by the battles we have just fought and will be strengthened further by the battles that we will be fighting side by side,” stated Pangilinan.

The party is yet to announce its official senatorial slate.

READ: Akbayan seeks to field Senate bets to boost opposition headcount