Former Senator Leila de Lima, now vying for a congressional seat as the first nominee of the Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list, has called for reforms in the party-list system to prevent political dynasties from using it to expand their influence.
During a campaign stop in Bacolod, De Lima voiced her concern that the system, originally designed to amplify marginalized sectors, is now dominated by political families and business interests. She emphasized that ML’s advocacy is to clean up and reform the system so that it truly represents workers, farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, the urban poor, women, youth, professionals, and the LGBTQ+ community.
“Social justice means those who have less in life must have more in law. The party-list system should not serve as an extension of powerful political clans,” De Lima said.
She also used the opportunity to endorse former Senators Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino for their Senate comeback, citing their long-standing support for farmers, workers, students, and ordinary Filipinos.
De Lima urged voters to back candidates who will push for real reforms, stating that meaningful change can only happen with public support.
“Justice alone is not enough. We need real reforms. If we do not change the broken system, we will keep seeing the same problems over and over,” she stressed.
The Commission on Elections accredited ML as a party-list in July 2024. Meanwhile, election watchdog Kontra Daya recently reported that over half of party-list groups running for seats in Congress do not genuinely represent marginalized communities, with many having ties to political dynasties, big businesses, and even military or police forces.
