The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) welcomes the announcement yesterday, August 26, National Heroes’ Day, of the candidacy for the Senate of 10 leaders of the Makabayang Koalisyon ng mga Mamamayan (Makabayan) bloc, as they will surely boost discussions about labor and human rights during their campaign.

Whatever the outcome of the Makabayan candidates’ bold and historic decision to run for the Senate, grassroots and broad discussions of labor and human rights will surely increase due to their campaign. While electoral campaign in the country continues to be dominated by the oligarchs’ money politics, the Filipino workers and people are clamoring that their rights be placed at the center of discussions.

Their slogan “Taumbayan sa Senado” makes us look forward to the Makabayan senatoriables’ tireless campaign where they discuss workers’ rights to a living wage; to security of tenure against contractualization; to collectively bargain, unionize and strike when necessary. We also look forward to them discussing the human rights of farmers, urban poor, women, jeepney drivers, fisherfolk, teachers, health workers, migrants and other sectors of society.

It would be exciting to see how the Makabayan candidates would push traditional politicians running for the Senate to disclose their stands on labor and human rights issues. It would be refreshing to hear senatorial candidates talking about workers’ and people’s issues during their media interviews.

The labor and human rights of workers and all Filipinos took a beating under the highly repressive presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. Sadly, grave violations of these rights continue under the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Jr, despite his promise and pretense of upholding rights. The Makabayan senatoriables’ entry into the arena represents continuing opposition to rights violations.

We trust that the Makabayan senatoriables will campaign throughout the entire country, visiting provinces where grassroots labor, peasant and people’s organizations were severely attacked under the Duterte presidency and are still being attacked under the Marcos Jr presidency.

We certainly hope the best for the senatorial candidacy of the Makabayan 10 and other progressive candidates. The Filipino workers and people need senators who will actively push for pro-worker and pro-people legislation.