The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has officially proclaimed the Gabriela Women’s Party as the holder of the 64th and final party-list seat in the House of Representatives, giving the women’s rights group another chance to push its advocacies in Congress.
Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, awarded the certificate of proclamation to Gabriela’s first nominee, Sarah Jane Elago, who will once again serve as a voice for women and marginalized sectors.
Gabriela initially failed to secure a seat in the May 2025 elections after receiving only around 0.61 percent of the national vote, ranking 55th among party-lists. However, the cancellation of the registration of Duterte Youth—originally proclaimed but later disqualified over unresolved legal deficiencies—created a vacancy that paved the way for Gabriela’s return to Congress.
Founded in 2003 as the political arm of the Gabriela alliance, the party has long been at the forefront of campaigns against violence and discrimination, linking women’s issues to broader struggles such as poverty, human rights, and national sovereignty. Over the years, it has co-authored landmark laws including the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, and the Safe Spaces Act.
The proclamation marks another chapter in Gabriela’s nearly two-decade presence in the legislature, where it has often faced political challenges, red-tagging, and fluctuating vote shares.
