Labor leaders Leody de Guzman and Luke Espiritu filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) for the 2025 elections on Friday, citing the continued dominance of political dynasties in the Senate as a failure to address the needs of the public, particularly the poor.
Both de Guzman and Espiritu are running under the Partido Lakas ng Masa banner.
“I’m running again because nothing has changed. Those who were elected have yet to show any progress,” said de Guzman, who previously ran for president in the 2022 elections but was unsuccessful.
“The issues of poverty, low wages, high electricity costs, and the steep prices of rice remain. Political dynasties, traditional politicians, and the elite are only in power to amass wealth and control,” he added.
Espiritu, who also ran for the Senate in 2022, emphasized the need for the Senate to work for the benefit of ordinary citizens.
“We will fight for the interests of the marginalized, the workers, and the poor,” Espiritu said.
He criticized the current state of the Senate, stating, “Our Senate should be an institution we can be proud of. But right now, it’s being mocked because it fails to address poverty. It has become more like a soap opera, providing entertainment. One Senator talks about their ‘urges,’ while others quarrel like high schoolers. This is not the Senate that the people deserve.”
Other candidates who filed their COC for the Senate on Friday included 1-Rider party-list lawmaker Bonifacio Bosita, House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar, and Makati Mayor Abby Binay, among others.