The Bayan Muna Partylist declared at its national convention today, September 26, in Quezon City that it aims to win three congressional seats in the party-list election in the coming 2025. The party is determined to return to congress following its failure to secure seats for representatives in the 2022 election.

The party chose the proven and veteran legislators from its ranks as its top nominees. Bayan Muna first nominee is Atty Neri Colmenares who has been the party’s representative in congress three times. He was an activist during the martial law of the Marcos dictatorship and served as a staunch ally of various sectors in their campaigns and struggles over the past decades.

Atty Carlos Ysagani Zarate, also a three-time representative of the party, will serve as its second nominee, and the third nominee is Ferdinand Gaite, a former leader of government employees unions and a one-time Bayan Muna representative in congress.

It listed Eufemia Cullamat, Lumad leader and former representative of the party in congress, and Atty. Kristina Conti, the lawyer for the Duterte regime’s drug war victims at the International Criminal Court, as succeeding nominees. Also running are Elizabeth Camoral, a former political prisoner in Southern Tagalog, Irma Espinas-Espinosa from Panay, Florentino Viuya Jr. a labor leader in Central Luzon, Lean Porquia from the ranks of BPO employees, and Mitzi Tan, youth activist -nature.

Bayan Muna was among the leading party-list in 2001 when it first embarked on the election and again in 2019. Of the eight times it joined the party-list election, it was able to appoint three representatives four times and two representatives twice.

The widespread support Bayan Muna gained in the previous elections makes its failure to get even one seat in the 2022 election a big surprise. The party believes that it was a victim of widespread fraud or vote-rigging during that time. Coercion and attacks by state forces, and other forms of electoral pressure, also had a significant impact.

Amid all these, Bayan Muna is now more determined to return to congress with its consistent record of authoring many pro-people laws, genuine resistance to anti-people administrations, and honest public record.

In his speech, Atty. Colmenares called for the party to campaign well so the poor and middle-class forces will embrace Bayan Muna. He said the party will continue to highlight the fight against high prices of utility and oil as well as promoting the ₱1,200 minimum daily wage for workers nationwide and the ₱33,000 monthly salary for public sector employees.

He urged all members of Bayan Muna to double their efforts and be creative to achieve the party’s victory. He said everyone should campaign as if tomorrow never comes especially that the party is on the verge of disqualification if it does not win in 2025.

Bayan Muna also officially expressed its support for the 11 Koalisyong Makabayan senatorial candidates. Among the coalition’s candidates are three former representatives and nominees of the party.

The national convention of Bayan Muna also recognized and honored its nearly 200 martyrs and heroes in the 25 years of the party, most of whom were killed by the AFP.