Workers, Anakpawis Party-list selects labor leader as sectoral nominee for Congressional bid

Leaders and members of Anakpawis Party List selected Kilusang Mayo Uno Secretary General Joel "Jomag" Maglunsod as their third nominee as the progressive party list formally declares participation in the May party-list elections during its 2nd National Convention at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines today.

According to KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog, who fully supports Maglunsod's bid for Congress, "we need to strengthen the representation of basic social sectors, especially workers, in the elite-dominated Congress. We are supporting Ka Jomag's candidacy 100 percent. With the way some pro-Arroyo legislators are delaying pro-worker proposals including House Bill 345 or the Beltran Bill for legislated wage increase, we know that we need more sectoral representatives in Congress."

Civil libertarian, seminarian and labor leader

Maglunsod, a former political detainee during Martial Law, hails from Mindanao and has been active in the labor movement since 1980s. He holds a degree in Liberal Arts Major in Economics and Philosophy from the Malaybalay College Seminary.

While working as a social science teacher at the St. Joseph College in the late 197os, he also served as volunteer instructor to farmers in Bukidnon. His strong links to the Church sector and exposure to the basic masses during his college days as an organizer of Basic Christian Communities led to his active involvement in the progressive people's movement. In 1982, he served as labor organizer and later as National Assistant Director for the United Lumber and General Workers of the Philippines (ULGWP) in Davao. In the 1990's he served as Deputy Secretary General of the Nagkahiusa Mamumuo sa Mindanao, KMU's regional formation in Southern Mindanao.

As a staunch defender of civil liberties, Maglunsod himself became a victim of political repression during the Marcos dictatorship. In 1984, he was arrested and was jailed due to charges of subversion, rebellion and insurrection. His case was dismissed after People Power 1. After his release from prison in 1986, he returned to the folds of the workers' movement and became more vigorous in his task as union organizer and labor leader.

"Anakpawis solons Crispin Beltran is from Bicol while Rep. Rafael Mariano is from Central Luzon. We will pitch Ka Jomag as the "Voice of the South." Workers are fully supporting him as a sectoral representative of poor people," Labog said.

For his part, Maglunsod said he is elated with the support and confidence given to him by workers, peasants and urban poor. "Anakpawis' main objective in the Congress is to advance pro-people resolutions that will benefit majority of the country's poor population."

The Anakpawis national convention convened over 1,000 leader and organizers of Anakpawis Party-list from all over the country. "Despite the government's vicious attacks and attempts to decapitate Anakpawis and other progressive organizations, we are gathering more support ordinary masses who endure poverty and injustice under the incumbent administration," Maglunsod concluded.