Bayan Muna (lit. 'Nation First') is a party-list in the Philippines, a member of the leftist political coalition Makabayan. The motto of the party is "New Politics, the Politics of Change", against "traditional, elitist, pro-imperialist politics".[1] Its platform includes the advocation of a government that progressively supports the working class, with meaningful representation of all democratic sectors in the Philippines. Bayan Muna was the second most popular party-list party in the 2007 Philippine elections. In 2009, Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo and former Bayan Muna and incumbent Gabriela Representative Liza Maza ran for senate seats as guest candidates under the ticket of billionaire real estate magnate Senator Manny Villar. Ocampo said that their common objective “is to emancipate the people from widespread poverty and social injustice."[2]
Bayan Muna | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Teodoro Casiño |
| President | Satur Ocampo |
| Chairman | Reynaldo Lesaca, Jr. |
| Spokesperson | Nathanael Santiago |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Quezon City |
| Ideology | Left-wing nationalism Anti-imperialism |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| National affiliation | Makabayan |
| Colors | Red, Yellow, Blue |
| Slogan | Kampeon ng Mahirap at Kawani ng Pamahalaan (lit. Champion of the Poor) |
| Seats in the House of Representatives of the Philippines | 0 / 316
|
| House of Representatives party-list seats | 0 / 63
|
| Website | |
| bayanmuna.com.ph | |
Electoral performance
edit| Election | Votes | % | Seats | Representatives to Congress |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,708,253 | 11.30% | 3 | Crispin Beltran, Liza Maza, Satur Ocampo (12th Congress) |
| 2004 | 1,203,305 | 9.46% | 3 | Teodoro Casiño, Satur Ocampo, Joel Virador (13th Congress) |
| 2007 | 979,039 | 6.14% | 3 | Teodoro Casiño, Neri Colmenares, Satur Ocampo (14th Congress) |
| 2010 | 746,019 | 2.47% | 2 | Teodoro Casiño, Neri Colmenares (15th Congress) |
| 2013 | 946,308 | 3.48% | 2 | Neri Colmenares, Carlos Isagani Zarate (16th Congress) |
| 2016 | 606,566 | 1.87% | 1 | Carlos Isagani Zarate (17th Congress) |
| 2019 | 1,112,979 | 4.01% | 3 | Carlos Isagani Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite, Eufemia Cullamat (18th Congress)[3] |
| 2022 | 215,981 | 0.60% | 0 | N/A (19th Congress) |
2007 elections
editIn the weeks leading up the Philippine national election, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, on behalf of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, admitted "Malacañang’s leading role in the fabricated charges leveled against Rep. Ocampo and the campaign to crush Bayan Muna."[4] Bayan Muna partylist representative Satur Ocampo was detained weeks prior in March 2007 on murder charges from an alleged 1984 communist purge in Leyte. The arrest was widely condemned by international observers. Rep. Ocampo was ordered released on bail by the Supreme Court.[5] In the May 14, 2007 election, the party won 2 seats in the nationwide party-list vote.
References
edit- ^ "Bayan Muna. About Bayan Muna". Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ "Villar welcomes Ocampo, Maza as NP's guest senatorial bets". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ Cepeda, Mara (July 22, 2019). "LP, Makabayan blocs back Benny Abante for House minority leader". Rappler. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ^ "Satur back on campaign trail; Palace, AFP finally admit roles in anti-Bayan Muna drive". Davao Today. April 9, 2007. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007 – via Wayback Machine.
- ^ Philippine Inquirer. "Media group slams MPD media ban on Ocampo" Archived May 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine March 22, 2007.