Akbayan

The Akbayan Citizens' Action Party, better known as Akbayan (lit. 'to escort' or 'to support' or 'to put an arm over the shoulders of another'), is a social democratic and progressive[3] political party in the Philippines. Akbayan is noted as a leading member of the progressive movement in the Philippines,[4][2] having been formed in 1998 by a variety of progressive political organizations.

Akbayan Citizens' Action Party
PresidentRafaela David
ChairmanGio Tingson
Secretary-GeneralBlenda R. Penafiel
FoundedJanuary 1998
Headquarters61 Mahabagin Street, Barangay Teachers Village East, Quezon City
Youth wingAkbayan Youth
Membership100,000
IdeologyParticipatory politics
Progressivism
Democratic socialism[1][2]
Social democracy[2]
Political positionCenter-left[2]
International affiliationProgressive Alliance
Colors  Red   Green   Purple
SloganSa Akbayan, Panalo ang Mamamayan! ("With Akbayan, the People Win!")
Seats in the Senate
1 / 24
Seats in the House of Representatives
0 / 304
Website
akbayan.org.ph

There are approximately 100 thousand members of Akbayan, with a pool of voter interest ranging anywhere between 150 thousand to 1 million people (at most 2.5% of Philippine active voters).

History
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Akbayan was formally founded in 1998 by different civil society organization and various left organizations from the country's social democratic, democratic socialists, and Marxist traditions with the intent of capturing state power through parliamentary struggle.

Akbayan has been critical of abuses committed by some members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against fellow activists.[5] It has also been critical of the Communist Party of the Philippines, particularly their actions in the countryside against peasant groups and communities and what they see as the Maoist group's extortion activities. Due to its stance against right-wing extremism (from some elements of the AFP) and the Maoist far-left (CPP–NPA–NDF), Akbayan has been a target by both political groups.[6]

Akbayan members protesting granting of bail for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for plunder charges

During the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Akbayan was among the opposition groups repressed by the government. It was also during this time that Akbayan suffered its lowest number of votes, with just over 400,000 votes in 2007. In 2009, Akbayan supported the presidential candidacy of then Senator Benigno Simeon Aquino III. Fueled by the popular discontent with the outgoing administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Aquino won the presidency by a large margin. This was also the first time that Akbayan was able to breach the 1 million vote mark, its best performance to that date. Despite the vote increase, however, it failed to secure three seats in the House of Representatives owing to a Supreme Court decision which ensured only the leading party list (Ako Bicol at that time) in the election would secure three seats.

Akbayan mobilization in front of Chinese Consular Office protesting the Chinese's incursions into the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone

Akbayan has been noted to oppose the increased incursions of the People's Republic of China (PRC) naval and coast guard vessels into Philippine territorial waters and within the country's 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).[7][8] In 2016, they allied themselves with the Liberal Party and the Magdalo Group, supporting Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo's campaigns and criticizing other candidates. After the election, they joined the Magnificent 7, a group of Liberal Party and Magdalo members. They publicly criticized several policies, including Duterte's handling of the Philippine Drug War and the TRAIN Law.

Akbayan has affiliate groups that represent government employees, women workers, migrants, as well as members of the LGBT community. The party's official website states that Akbayan is an activist organisation "and proud of it", and that it "vehemently condemn(s) torture, assassination, and other violent acts that undermine human rights and freedoms regardless of whoever commits them".[9]

Ideology
Further information: Democratic socialism, Social democracy, and Reformism

The party includes both democratic socialists[1] and social democrats[3] as members. While Akbayan's political-economic platform rests on the democratic-socialist foundation which the ruling PDP–Laban ostensibly shares,[10] the former differs greatly with the latter with regard to civil rights and law enforcement.

Legislative record
Akbayan members calling for the passage of the CARPER Law
Creative action for the passage of the Reproductive Health Law in 2012
  • Republic Act 9189 – The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003[11]
  • Republic Act 9481 – Right to Labor Self-Organization Law[12]
  • Republic Act 9502 – Cheaper and Quality Medicines Law[13]
  • Republic Act 9700 – Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) Law[14]
  • Republic Act 10354 – Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law[15]
  • Republic Act 10351 – Restructuring the Excise Tax on Alcohol and Tobacco or The Sin Tax Law[16]
  • Republic Act 10368 – Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013[17]
  • Republic Act 10667 – Philippine Competition Act[18]
  • Republic Act 10028 – Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Law[19]
  • Republic Act 10742 – Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Law
  • Republic Act 10643 – Graphic Health Warning Law[20]
  • Republic Act 10932 – Anti-Hospital Deposit Act[21]
  • Republic Act 11036 – Mental Health Act[22]
  • Republic Act 11166 – HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018[23]

Electoral performance

President
Election Candidate Number of votes Share of votes Outcome of election
2010 Supported Benigno Aquino III who won
2016 Supported Mar Roxas who lost
2022 Supporting Leni Robredo; elections is on May 9, 2022[24]
Notes

    Vice president
    Election Candidate Number of votes Share of votes Outcome of election
    2010 Supported Mar Roxas who lost
    2016 Supported Leni Robredo who won
    2022 Supporting Francis Pangilinan; elections is on May 9, 2022

    Senate elections
    Election Number of votes Share of votes Seats won Seats after Outcome of election
    2013 10,944,843 3.68%
    0 / 12
    0 / 24
    		 Lost
    2016 15,915,213 4.97%
    1 / 12
    1 / 24
    		 PDP–Laban-led coalition
    2019 Did not participate
    0 / 12
    1 / 24
    		 Lost

    Party-list elections

    Akbayan is only one of two parties (the other is Butil) to win seats in all party list elections in the Philippines until 2019. Furthermore, Akbayan is the only party to surpass the 2% election threshold in all elections until the 2016 election where they fell short by 0.12%.

    ElectionVotes %Party-list seats
    1998 232,3762.54%
    1 / 51
    2001 377,8522.50%
    1 / 51
    2004 852,4736.70%
    3 / 52
    2007 466,1122.92%
    2 / 53
    2010 1,058,6913.50%
    2 / 57
    2013 827,4053.02%
    2 / 59
    2016 608,4491.88%
    1 / 59
    2019 171,7130.62%
    0 / 61

    Elections in congressional districts

    In 2013, Kaka Bag-ao ran in Dinagat Islands seat under the Akbayan label and won; she subsequently ran under the Liberal Party label in subsequent elections.

    Election Number of votes Share of votes Seats Outcome of election
    2013 34,239 0.12%
    1 / 293
    		 Liberal-led coalition

    Representatives to Congress
    Period 1st Representative 2nd Representative 3rd Representative
    11th Congress
    1998–2001
    		 Loretta Ann P. Rosales    
    12th Congress
    2001–2004
    		 Dr. Mario J. Aguja
    13th Congress
    2004–2007
    Risa Hontiveros
    14th Congress
    2007–2010
    Risa Hontiveros
    Walden Bello
    		  
    15th Congress
    2010–2013
    Walden Bello
    Kaka Bag-ao
    16th Congress
    2013–2016
    Walden Bello1
    Angelina Ludovice-Katoh2
    Barry Gutierrez
    17th Congress
    2016–2019
    Tomasito Villarin
    		  
    18th Congress
    2019–2022
    		  
    ^1 Resigned on 16 March 2015.[25]
    ^2 Replaced resigned representative Walden Bello and sworn in on 13 May 2015.[26]

    Candidates for 2013 elections
    • Risa Hontiveros – Senator
    • Arlene "Kaka" Bag-ao – District Representative, Dinagat Islands (under Liberal Party)
    • Walden F. Bello – 1st nominee, party-list
    • Ibarra M. Gutierrez III – 2nd nominee, party-list
    • Angelina Ludovice Katoh – 3rd nominee, party-list
    • Sylvia Estrada Claudio – 4th nominee, party-list
    • Francis Q. Isaac – 5th nominee, party-list
    • Edwin A. Bustillos – 6th nominee, party-list

    Candidates for 2016 elections
    • Risa Hontiveros – Senator
    • Tomasito Villarin – 1st nominee, party-list
    • Barry Gutierrez III – 2nd nominee, party-list 1
    • Angelina Katoh – 3rd nominee, partyl-ist
    • Rafaela Mae David – 4th nominee, party-list
    • Doris Obena – 5th nominee, party-list
    • Mylene Hega – 6th nominee, party-list
    • Cenon Nolasco – 7th nominee, party-list
    • Pat Ibay – Councilor (District 1, Pasay)
    • Ileana Ibay – Councilor (District 2, Pasay)
    • Alvin Dizon – Councilor (District 1, Cebu City) 2
    • Sergio Bañes Jr. – Councilor (Estancia, Iloilo)
    • Egar Chu – Councilor (Estancia, Iloilo)
    ^1 Also the spokesperson of Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid.
    ^2 Ran under the Liberal Party.

    Candidates for 2019 elections
    • Tomasito Villarin – 1st nominee, party-list
    • Gio Tingson – 2nd nominee, party-list
    • Doris Dinorog-Obena – 3rd nominee, party-list
    • Angelina Katoh – 4th nominee, party-list
    • Napoleon Merida – 5th nominee, party-list
    • Cristina Oganiza – 6th nominee, party-list

    Candidates for 2022 elections
    • Risa Hontiveros – Senator
    • Percival Cendaña – 1st nominee, party-list
    • Dr. Raymond John Naguit – 2nd nominee, party-list
    • Cristina Oganiza – 3rd nominee, party-list
    • Angelina Katoh – 4th nominee, party-list
    • JC Tejano – 5th nominee, party-list
    • Victoria de Jesus – 6th nominee, party-list

    References
    1. Artemio, Guillermo (2012). Historical Dictionary of the Philippines. Scarecrow Press. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-8108-7246-2.
    2. Dayley, Robert (2016). Southeast Asia In The New International Era. ISBN 9780813350110. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
    3. "About Akbayan - Akbayan Party List". akbayan.org.ph. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
    4. "Llamas hits Reds' tag on 'democratic left'". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
    5. "Akbayan feels Esperon praise a left-handed compliment". Retrieved February 25, 2016.
    6. "Akbayan chides Bayan Muna & affiliates for falling into the AFP's 'divide & rule' strategy : Indybay". Indybay. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
    7. "Philippine Party says China violated its seas : Indybay". Indybay. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
    8. Rodel Rodis. "Are Filipinos united against China's invasion of Ayungin?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
    9. "RRT Research Response" (PDF). Refugee Review Tribunal. Research Response Number PHL 31913. June 2, 2007.
    10. Bello y Flores, Walden (May 21, 2021). "Walden Bello on Rodrigo Duterte and Fascism". Rappler.
    11. "R.A. 9189". The LawPhil Project. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
    12. "R.A. 9481". The LawPhil Project. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
    13. "R.A. 9502". The LawPhil Project. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
    14. "R.A. 9700". The LawPhil Project. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
    15. "Republic Act No. 10354". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
    16. "Republic Act No. 10351".
    17. "Republic Act No. 10368". The LawPhil Project. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
    18. "No more 'business as usual' as Competition bill nears enactment – Akbayan Party List". Archived from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
    19. "R.A. No. 10028".
    20. gov.ph
    21. "Senate approves stiffer penalties vs hospitals demanding deposits".
    22. "Duterte signs Philippine Mental Health law".
    23. "WHO Philippines lauds passage of new law on HIV, AIDS".
    24. "'Akbayan si Leni': Akbayan Party endorses Robredo for president in 2022". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
    25. "Bello resigns as Akbayan representative, calls Aquino disgraceful". Inquirer News. March 11, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
    26. "Akbayan names Bello's replacement in Congress". Rappler. May 13, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
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