Stronger in power.
Following the disqualification of party-list organization An Waray by the Supreme Court En Banc via a 14-1 vote, Akbayan Party earned a seat at the House of Representatives.
As Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña took his oath of office, he said that this marks a “historic comeback for the progressive political party”, adding that Akbayan’s return to Congress after a five-year absence “makes it the only democratic left and progressive group to successfully bounce back from a party-list electoral defeat.”
“Kinikilala namin ang makasaysayang pagbabalik ng Akbayan sa Kongreso lalo na’t mahirap ang pinagdaanan natin at ng iba pang demokratiko at progresibong grupo sa party-list. Bagama’t marami ang nagsumikap makabalik, Akbayan lang ang pinalad na manalo at makabalik sa Kongreso. Lubos ang aming pasasalamat sa aming mga botante, miyembro, supporters, at mga kaalyadong grupo sa aming pagkapanalo,” Cendaña said.
Akbayan’s return to Congress also makes the political party the longest serving party-list organization, having won at least a seat 1998, and only losing in 2019.
A former National Youth Commission (NYC) Commissioner, Cendaña was the first openly gay man to serve as chairperson of the University of the Philippines – Diliman Student Council. He is also a champion of the SOGIE Equality Bill.
Akbayan’s more than two decades in the House of Representatives have resulted in numerous landmark laws, such as the Cheaper Medicines Act, the Safe Spaces Act, CARPER Act, and the SK Reform Law.
