Akbayan
Political party in the Philippines
The Akbayan Citizens' Action Party , better known as Akbayan (lit. ' the escorting of each other ' or ' the support for one another ' or ' the collective putting of an arm over the shoulders of another ' ), is a democratic socialist and progressive [ 4] political party in the Philippines . Akbayan is noted as a leading member of the progressive movement in the Philippines,[ 5] [ 2] having been formed in 1998 by a variety of progressive political organizations .
There are approximately 100 thousand members of Akbayan, with a pool of voter interest ranging anywhere between 150 thousand to 1 million people (at most 2.5% of Philippine active voters).
History
Akbayan was formally founded in 1998 by different civil society organizations and various left-leaning organizations from the country's social democratic, democratic socialist , and Marxist traditions with the intent of capturing state power through parliamentary struggle.
Akbayan has been critical of abuses committed by some members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against fellow activists .[ 6] It has also been critical of the Communist Party of the Philippines , particularly its actions in the countryside against peasant groups and communities and what these groups and communities see as the Maoist group's extortion activities. Due to its stance against right-wing extremism (from some elements of the AFP) and the Maoist far-left (CPP–NPA–NDF ), Akbayan has been a target of both political groups.[ 7]
Akbayan members protesting the granting of bail to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who was then facing plunder charges
During the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo , Akbayan was among the opposition groups repressed by the government . It was also during this time that Akbayan suffered its lowest number of votes, with just over 400,000 votes in 2007. In 2009, Akbayan supported the presidential candidacy of then Senator Benigno Simeon Aquino III . Fueled by the popular discontent with the outgoing administration of Macapagal-Arroyo, Aquino won the presidency by a large margin. This was also the first time that Akbayan was able to breach the 1 million vote mark, its best performance to that date. Despite the vote increase, however, it failed to secure three seats in the House of Representatives owing to a Supreme Court decision which ensured only the leading party list (Ako Bicol at that time) in the election would secure three seats.
Akbayan mobilization in front of the Chinese Consular Office to protest China's incursions into the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone
Akbayan has been noted to oppose the increased incursions of the People's Republic of China (PRC) naval and coast guard vessels into Philippine territorial waters and within the country's 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).[ 8] [ 9] In 2016, the party allied itself with the Liberal Party and the Magdalo Group , supporting Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo 's campaigns and criticizing other candidates. After the election, it joined the Magnificent 7, a group of Liberal Party and Magdalo members. The party publicly criticized several policies of the Duterte government , including Duterte 's handling of the Philippine Drug War and the TRAIN Law .
Akbayan has affiliate groups that represent government employees , women workers , migrants , as well as members of the LGBT community . The party's official website states that Akbayan is an activist organisation "and proud of it", and that it "vehemently condemn(s) torture , assassination , and other violent acts that undermine human rights and freedoms regardless of whoever commits them".[ 10]
Ideology
The party includes both democratic socialists [ 1] and social democrats [ 4] as members. While Akbayan's political-economic platform rests on the democratic-socialist foundation which PDP–Laban ostensibly shares,[ 11] the former differs greatly from the latter with regard to civil rights and law enforcement .
Legislative record
Akbayan members calling for the passage of the CARPER Law
Creative demonstration of support for the passage of the Reproductive Health Law in 2012
Republic Act 9189 – The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003[ 12]
Republic Act 9481 – Right to Labor Self-Organization Law[ 13]
Republic Act 9502 – Cheaper and Quality Medicines Law[ 14]
Republic Act 9700 – Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) Law [ 15]
Republic Act 10354 – Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law [ 16]
Republic Act 10351 – Restructuring the Excise Tax on Alcohol and Tobacco or The Sin Tax Law[ 17]
Republic Act 10368 – Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013[ 18]
Republic Act 10667 – Philippine Competition Act[ 19]
Republic Act 10028 – Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Law[ 20]
Republic Act 10742 – Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Law
Republic Act 10643 – Graphic Health Warning Law[ 21]
Republic Act 10932 – Anti-Hospital Deposit Act[ 22]
Republic Act 11036 – Mental Health Act[ 23]
Republic Act 11166 – HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018[ 24]
Presidential and vice presidential
Senate elections
Election
Number of votes
Share of votes
Seats won
Seats after
Outcome of election
2013
10,944,843
3.68%
Lost
2016
15,915,213
4.97%
PDP–Laban -led coalition
2019
Did not participate
Lost
2022
15,470,005
3.56%
Uniteam -led coalition
House of Representatives elections
Party-list elections
Akbayan is only one of two parties (the other is Butil ) to win seats in all party-list elections in the Philippines until 2019. Furthermore, Akbayan is the only party to surpass the 2% election threshold in all elections until the 2016 election where they fell short by 0.12%.
Election
Votes
%
Party-list seats
1998
232,376
2.54%
2001
377,852
2.50%
2004
852,473
6.70%
2007
466,112
2.92%
2010
1,058,691
3.50%
2013
827,405
3.02%
2016
608,449
1.88%
2019
171,713
0.62%
2022
236,226
0.64%
Elections in congressional districts
In 2013, Kaka Bag-ao ran for the Dinagat Islands seat under the Akbayan label and won; she ran under the Liberal Party label in subsequent elections.
Election
Number of votes
Share of votes
Seats
Outcome of election
2013
34,239
0.12%
Liberal -led coalition
Representatives to Congress
Period
1st Representative
2nd Representative
3rd Representative
Loretta Ann P. Rosales
Dr. Mario J. Aguja
Tomasito Villarin
Notes
[ 27]
[ 28]
Candidates for 2013 elections
Risa Hontiveros – Senator
Arlene "Kaka" Bag-ao – District Representative, Dinagat Islands (under Liberal Party)
Walden F. Bello – 1st nominee, party-list
Ibarra M. Gutierrez III – 2nd nominee, party-list
Angelina Ludovice Katoh – 3rd nominee, party-list
Sylvia Estrada Claudio – 4th nominee, party-list
Francis Q. Isaac – 5th nominee, party-list
Edwin A. Bustillos – 6th nominee, party-list
Candidates for 2016 elections
Risa Hontiveros – Senator
Tomasito Villarin – 1st nominee, party-list
Barry Gutierrez III – 2nd nominee, party-list[ n 1]
Angelina Katoh – 3rd nominee, party-list
Rafaela Mae David – 4th nominee, party-list
Doris Obena – 5th nominee, party-list
Mylene Hega – 6th nominee, party-list
Cenon Nolasco – 7th nominee, party-list
Pat Ibay – Councilor (District 1, Pasay)
Ileana Ibay – Councilor (District 2, Pasay)
Alvin Dizon – Councilor (District 1, Cebu City)[ n 2]
Sergio Bañes Jr. – Councilor (Estancia, Iloilo)
Egar Chu – Councilor (Estancia, Iloilo)
^ Also the spokesperson of Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid.
^ Ran under the Liberal Party.
Candidates for 2019 elections
Tomasito Villarin – 1st nominee, party-list
Gio Tingson – 2nd nominee, party-list
Doris Dinorog-Obena – 3rd nominee, party-list
Angelina Katoh – 4th nominee, party-list
Napoleon Merida – 5th nominee, party-list
Cristina Oganiza – 6th nominee, party-list
Candidates for 2022 elections
Risa Hontiveros – Senator
Percival Cendaña – 1st nominee, party-list
Dr. Raymond John Naguit – 2nd nominee, party-list
Cristina Oganiza – 3rd nominee, party-list
Angelina Katoh – 4th nominee, party-list
JC Tejano – 5th nominee, party-list
Victoria de Jesus – 6th nominee, party-list
Local Candidates
Lyn Dialde - Board Member, Dinagat Islands
Fely Pedrablanca - Mayor, Tubajon, Dinagat Islands
Rexon Arevalo - Vice Mayor, Nagcarlan, Laguna
Ernesto Balida - Vice Mayor, Batad, Iloilo
Petnel Sombrado - Vice Mayor, Dinagat, Dinagat Islands
Zoltan Edera - Vice Mayor, Libjo, Dinagat Islands
Liezl Aguirre - Councilor, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan
Tobit Cruz - Councilor, Taytay, Rizal
Erwin Dimaculangan - Councilor, Alitagtag, Batangas
Elaine Teope - Councilor, Luisiana, Laguna
Laurence Sombilla - Councilor, Nagcarlan, Laguna
Richard Pavico - Councilor, San Pablo, Laguna
Gilbert Arrabis Jr. - Councilor, Daanbantayan, Cebu
Wilfredo Punay - Councilor, Tubajon, Dinagat Islands
Samson Tidalgo - Councilor, Tubajon, Dinagat Islands
Current party officials
Party President: Rafaela David
Party Chairperson: Mylene Hega
Secretary-General: Jordan Gutierrez
Former Political Advicer: Ronald Llamas
References
^ a b Artemio, Guillermo (2012). Historical Dictionary of the Philippines . Scarecrow Press. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-8108-7246-2 .
^ a b c d Dayley, Robert (2016). Southeast Asia In The New International Era . Avalon. ISBN 9780813350110 . Retrieved April 19, 2017 .
^ "About" .
^ a b "About Akbayan - Akbayan Party List" . akbayan.org.ph . Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2018 .
^ "Llamas hits Reds' tag on 'democratic left' " . The Philippine Star . Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016 .
^ "Akbayan feels Esperon praise a left-handed compliment" . Retrieved February 25, 2016 .
^ "Akbayan chides Bayan Muna & affiliates for falling into the AFP's 'divide & rule' strategy : Indybay" . Indybay . Retrieved February 25, 2016 .
^ "Philippine Party says China violated its seas : Indybay" . Indybay . Retrieved February 25, 2016 .
^ Rodel Rodis. "Are Filipinos united against China's invasion of Ayungin?" . Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved February 25, 2016 .
^ "RRT Research Response" (PDF) . Refugee Review Tribunal . Research Response Number PHL 31913. June 2, 2007.
^ Bello y Flores, Walden (May 21, 2021). "Walden Bello on Rodrigo Duterte and Fascism" . Rappler .
^ "R.A. 9189" . The LawPhil Project . Retrieved February 25, 2016 .
^ "R.A. 9481" . The LawPhil Project . Retrieved February 25, 2016 .
^ "R.A. 9502" . The LawPhil Project . Retrieved February 25, 2016 .
^ "R.A. 9700" . The LawPhil Project . Retrieved February 25, 2016 .
^ "Republic Act No. 10354" . Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines . December 21, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2016 .
^ "Republic Act No. 10351" .
^ "Republic Act No. 10368" . The LawPhil Project . Retrieved February 25, 2016 .
^ "No more 'business as usual' as Competition bill nears enactment – Akbayan Party List" . Archived from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "R.A. No. 10028" .
^ "gov.ph" . Retrieved February 16, 2024 .
^ "Senate approves stiffer penalties vs hospitals demanding deposits" . May 15, 2017.
^ "Duterte signs Philippine Mental Health law" . June 21, 2018.
^ "WHO Philippines lauds passage of new law on HIV, AIDS" . The Philippine STAR .
^ Press release akbayan.org
^ "Leni at Akbayan: Kakampink sa Laban | Kailangan ni Leni Robredo ng partylist na subok at maaasahan. Si Leni Robredo at Akbayan: matagal nang kakampink sa laban. Ipanalo: #146Akbayan... | By Akbayan Party | Facebook" . Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via www.facebook.com.
^ "Bello resigns as Akbayan representative, calls Aquino disgraceful" . Inquirer News . March 11, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2015 .
^ "Akbayan names Bello's replacement in Congress" . Rappler . May 13, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015 .
External links