Diokno is Akbayan's first nominee in 2025
HUMAN rights lawyer Chel Diokno is the first nominee of the Akbayan party-list for next year's election, the party announced on Saturday. Diokno, who recently joined Akbayan, was supposed to run for the Senate for the third time, before the party made the announcement. "It is an honor to represent Akbayan and push for its principles and buckle down on protecting the welfare of the Filipino people, upholding our democracy and holding the corrupt accountable," Diokno said in a statement. "Thank you for the trust and support! It is an honor to represent the Akbayan Party and push for its principles. We shall buckle down on protecting the welfare of the Filipino people, upholding our democracy and holding the corrupt accountable. Let's win the Congress for the welfare of every Filipino!" he said on a Facebook post. According to the veteran lawyer, who ran for the Senate in 2019 and 2022, the decision to accept the nomination from Akbayan followed a "careful process of discernment and consultation." "From the beginning, we carefully examined all possible avenues to best serve our people. After thorough reflection, we determined that running under the party-list system is not only a principled choice but also the most pragmatic path to effectively confront the forces of corruption and injustice," Diokno said. He also said that while he is stepping away from the Senate race, he will continue to support former senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan, as these were also the candidates that are supported by Akbayan. "Akbayan remains steadfast in backing Senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan. We fully support Senator Risa Hontiveros' two Senate candidates, and as we campaign for them, we will also work to secure at least three seats for the party," Diokno said. The party's newly inaugurated representative, Percival Cendaña, will be the party's second nominee, while Muslim leader Dadah Ismula will be their third nominee. Diokno is currently chairman of the Free Legal Assistance Group, Cendaña was a former commissioner-at-large and commissioner for Luzon of the National Youth Commission and a notable LGBTQI+ equality champion and leader, while Ismula is a "champion of Indigenous Peoples' (IPs) rights" that worked to have them represented in the city council in Zamboanga City. On Wednesday, Cendaña, who was the 2022 first nominee, took his oath of office on behalf of Akbayan, after it replaced An Waray, following the latter's disqualification by the Supreme Court and the Commission on Elections.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
HUMAN rights lawyer Chel Diokno is the first nominee of the Akbayan party-list for next year's election, the party announced on Saturday.
Diokno, who recently joined Akbayan, was supposed to run for the Senate for the third time, before the party made the announcement.
"It is an honor to represent Akbayan and push for its principles and buckle down on protecting the welfare of the Filipino people, upholding our democracy and holding the corrupt accountable," Diokno said in a statement.
"Thank you for the trust and support! It is an honor to represent the Akbayan Party and push for its principles. We shall buckle down on protecting the welfare of the Filipino people, upholding our democracy and holding the corrupt accountable. Let's win the Congress for the welfare of every Filipino!" he said on a Facebook post.
According to the veteran lawyer, who ran for the Senate in 2019 and 2022, the decision to accept the nomination from Akbayan followed a "careful process of discernment and consultation."
"From the beginning, we carefully examined all possible avenues to best serve our people. After thorough reflection, we determined that running under the party-list system is not only a principled choice but also the most pragmatic path to effectively confront the forces of corruption and injustice," Diokno said.
He also said that while he is stepping away from the Senate race, he will continue to support former senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan, as these were also the candidates that are supported by Akbayan.
"Akbayan remains steadfast in backing Senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan. We fully support Senator Risa Hontiveros' two Senate candidates, and as we campaign for them, we will also work to secure at least three seats for the party," Diokno said.
The party's newly inaugurated representative, Percival Cendaña, will be the party's second nominee, while Muslim leader Dadah Ismula will be their third nominee.
Diokno is currently chairman of the Free Legal Assistance Group, Cendaña was a former commissioner-at-large and commissioner for Luzon of the National Youth Commission and a notable LGBTQI+ equality champion and leader, while Ismula is a "champion of Indigenous Peoples' (IPs) rights" that worked to have them represented in the city council in Zamboanga City.
On Wednesday, Cendaña, who was the 2022 first nominee, took his oath of office on behalf of Akbayan, after it replaced An Waray, following the latter's disqualification by the Supreme Court and the Commission on Elections.
