Makabayan bets surprised by warm welcome in Duterte territory

The Makabayan party’s 11 senatorial bets during filing of their certificates of candidacy (COCs) on October 4, 2024. —INQUIRER.net/John Eric Mendoza

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Makabayan senatorial candidates admitted they had expected the worst when they began their campaign here, where former President Rodrigo Duterte served as mayor for more than three decades and where the Dutertes still hold all major political posts.

But to their surprise, residents in depressed communities they visited received them with the warmest welcome instead of hostility.

Makabayan senatorial candidates Rep. Arlene Brosas, former Partylist Rep. Liza Maza, former Rep. Teddy Casiño, labor leader Jerome Adonis, Moro leader Amirah Lidasan, nurse and health activist Alyn Andamo and fisherfolk leader Ronnel Arambulo even described their campaign in Davao City as having defied expectations.

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“Even before we landed here, we already tried to weigh the situation,” said former Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Liza Maza.

“We were really expecting worse; in fact, I did not speak up at first, but I was surprised when the house owner herself asked for our posters and brought them to her house for display. Even the calendar that was supposed to be put inside was placed outside the house like a poster. We take that as very positive and very heartwarming as well,” Maza, speaking in Tagalog, said during a press briefing here.

Casiño described their discussions as “very respectful.”

“We agreed to disagree on certain issues but there are many issues [on which] we are one with our fellow Filipinos,” he said.

Brosas said there was not an instance when they faced outright hostility.

“There were just a few who said, ‘We will not vote for them,’ and we respect that. Maybe they still need to see concrete actions before they can change their minds,” said Brosas. “But there were many who accepted us.”

No hostility

She said it was not true that the Davao people were outright hostile.

“So far, that was our experience,” Brosas noted.

“If Davao City is the bailiwick of the Dutertes, remember, too, that it is also the bailiwick of Bayan Muna,” Casiño said.

Lidasan said she was surprised when they campaigned at the Bankerohan public market and people recognized her as a partylist nominee of Bayan Muna.

“I had to explain to them that we are running for the Senate now; I was so touched that they still remember,” she said.

The group targeted for their sorties the most depressed communities, especially those who faced the threats of demolition, and expressed solidarity for their aspiration for stable and secure homes and a life with dignity.

They visited the public markets and even the jeepney and bus terminals, where they knew the poorest people congregate. Instead of merely shaking hands and introducing themselves, they discussed issues directly confronting the people and listened to what they had to say.

“When we brought up the issue about the rising prices of commodities, everyone agreed that the best solution would be to raise the wages of workers,” said Adonis, bringing up Makabayan’s proposal for a P1,200 legislated wage increase.

Andamo added that the right to free health services and free medicine also resonated with most of the people during their discussions.

Makabayan also considers as a solution to high food prices the removal of the value-added tax and the excise tax on oil, which keeps inflation up.

Common problems

The group also visited fisherfolk in Boulevard and in Bunawan, where residents complained about the ever-decreasing areas where they can fish, according to Arambulo.

“We were so surprised by the warmth of their welcome and they even prepared snacks and food. For the first time, (people in the communities) said they came to meet the senatoriables face to face, ” Arambulo said. “They shared their problems with us.”

He said the recent Supreme Court decision allowing commercial fishers to fish 15 kilometers from the shoreline and the zoning laws of municipalities had narrowed down the areas where small fisherfolk could fish.

According to the group, the fight for meaningful change cannot exclude this city, even if this had been known as Duterte’s bailiwick.

The group said issues on food security, living wages, adequate housing, livelihood, healthcare, human rights and good governance resonated with all Filipinos and the Makabayan bets said they remained committed to bringing these issues to the national stage.