Akbayan reps to the 15th Congress promises to prioritize RH Bill, Compensation for
Martial Law Victims, and Econ Reforms
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Akbayan party-list representatives Prof. Walden Bello and Atty. Kaka Bag-ao to the 15th Congress on Tuesday
promised to focus on what it refers as priority bills like the Reproductive Health bill and the compensation of
Martial Law victims.
Prof. Bello and Atty. Bag-ao made the commitment after being sworn as party representatives to the next
Congress by Akbayan mayor Alvaro Daus of Laur, Nueva Ecija in simple ceremonies at Balai Kalinaw inside
the University of the Philippines – Diliman campus.
“Akbayan will not allow the rights of women and the overall health and welfare of the country remains hostage
to the whims of the Catholic Church hierarchy,” Bello asserted. “In the 15th Congress, we will ensure that the
Reproductive Health Bill gets its day in plenary, and we will work hard with our allies in congress and other
branches of government and in civil society for the passage of the law.”
Bag-ao, added that even if the wife of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos and now Ilocos representative Imelda
Marcos became his seat mate in Congress, she will continue to fight for the compensation of the human
rights victims during the 20-year Martial Law dispensation
“The return of the Marcoses to power does not mean an end to the rightful and just compensation for human
rights victims during the Marcos Dicatorship,” Atty. Bag-ao noted.
Imelda Marcos was voted to the Lower House while her son and the dictator’s namesake Bongbong gained a
foothold in the Senate.
Both legislators agreed that as part of the ruling coalition in Congress, Akbayan would work with the next
government on reforms like land distribution and moratorium of debt payments.
“Noynoy (president-apparent Noynoy Aquino) promised that he will distribute Hacienda Luisista and we will
ensure that he will do what he promised to the farmers,” Bello added.
“We will work closely with the new administration but we will not be rubber stamps. We will continue Akbayan’
s legacy in Congress as progressive legislators by ensuring that pro-people bills are passed into law,” added
Bag-ao, who rose to prominence by acting as one of the legal consultant of the Sumilaro farmers
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