Leody de Guzman, Luke Espiritu announce senatorial bid

Metro Manila, Philippines – Two labor leaders will join the senatorial race in the midterm elections next year.

During the 31st anniversary of militant group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) on Saturday, Sept. 14, Leody de Guzman and Luke Espiritu announced their plan to secure a Senate seat.

They will run under the Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM).

De Guzman said Filipinos need “political power.”

“Ang puno’t dulo ng lahat ng problema, isyung nilalaban ng mamamayan ngayon ay walang iba kundi ang political dynasty, and elite na gobyerno. Sila ang gumagawa ng mga batas, patakaran, programa na naglilingkod sa malalaking negosyante,” he said.

[Translation: The start and end of all problems and issues that the people are fighting against are none other than political dynasties and an elite government. They make our laws, rules, and programs that serve big businesses.]

Espiritu vowed to fight “traditional politicians” despite the lack of funds and machinery.

“Importante, tindig sa ating panahon. Dahil kung hindi natin titindigan ‘yun, tayo’y isusuko na lang natin ang ating lipunan sa mga payaso, mamamatay-tao, mga plunderer upang ilagay nila ang ating lipunan sa lusak,” he said.

[Translation: It is important to stand for our times. If we will not stand for it, we are surrendering our society to clowns, murderers, and plunderers who will put us in deep, sticky mud.]

De Guzman and Espiritu got support from two of the country’s government unions, the WHITE Union and the PAGCEA PAGCOR Union.

In 2022, De Guzman, a labor leader for more than four decades, was among the presidential candidates. He is the incumbent PLM president.

Meanwhile, Espiritu sought a Senate seat in the last polls. He is the current president of BMP.