Villar lauds local leaders; Akbayan calls for junking dynasties

February 26, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidate and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar has lauded barangay officials for their role in nation-building.

“You are the real nation-builders. We have a lot to be thankful for because of the efficiency you have shown at the grassroots level,” she said at a recent interaction with barangay leaders in General Trias, Cavite.

Vying for a Senate seat in the May midterm elections, Villar has reportedly spent more than P1 billion in advertisements for her campaign.

Recent Pulse Asia and OCTA surveys have ranked Villar outside of the so-called Magic 12 candidates likely to win a Senate seat.

If she wins in the midterm polls, Villar will join her brother Mark in the Senate.

Their mother Cynthia is seeking to replace Camille as representative of Las Piñas.

The congresswoman, part of the administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate, is the daughter of billionaire Manny Villar.

Junk dynasties

Filipinos should junk political dynasties and elect a “new wave of progressives and reformers,” according to progressive group Akbayan.

“The fight for reforms and defense of EDSA’s victories must continue. We must ensure that the tyranny and abuses of the past never return – no matter what surname they bear,” the group said, referring to the 1986 EDSA revolt.

“On this anniversary of EDSA, we call on the people to usher in a new people power revolution – an electoral uprising that will confront trapos (traditional politicians) and political dynasties that have hijacked our democracy and finally fulfill the promise of EDSA,” Akbayan said.

Vote wisely

Voters should choose candidates wisely and evaluate their track record and accomplishments, according to Akbayan party-list first nominee Chel Diokno.

“We have to look at their track record. What did he do if he was formerly in government service? If he is in the private sector, what did he do for the community?” Diokno asked.

Youth voters are important in the May midterm polls as 63 percent of voters comprise millennials and Gen Zs, he noted.

“Through EDSA People Power 1, our trust in the election system was revived and we regained our rights to choose courageous candidates,” Diokno said.

Reject POGO bets

Voters should reject candidates affiliated with Philippine offshore gaming operators, according to Manila Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr.

Some candidates are enjoying support from POGOs to protect their benefactors, he noted.

The President’s decision to ban POGOs last year was one of the reasons the country was delisted from the Financial Action Task Force’s money laundering watchlist, Dionisio said.

The House quad committee’s probe into POGOs also contributed to the country’s removal from the watchlist, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said.

Abolish NTF-ELCAC

Welcoming the poll body’s resolution prohibiting red-tagging during the election period, women’s group Gabriela has reiterated its call to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

“Prohibiting red-tagging every election is an important move, but it is not enough. We need to end the systematic red-tagging led by the NTF-ELCAC, funded with billions of pesos,” Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas said yesterday.

Candidates and their supporters are prohibited from accusing people, groups and activists of being communist rebels, terrorists or criminals without evidence per Comelec Resolution 11116.

“The NTF-ELCAC itself is guilty of election-related harassment. In 2019, they filed a baseless petition to cancel our registration and even spread malicious fake news that we were already disqualified. These are exactly the kind of dangerous tactics that the new Comelec resolution seeks to prevent,” Brosas noted. — Jose Rodel Clapano