Altermidya
Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) vice chairperson Ronnel Arambulo is Makabayan Coalition’s fifth bet for the Senate in next year’s national elections.
Arambulo’s candidacy was announced on August 19 by PAMALAKAYA in a program in Navotas City with the call “Mangingisda naman sa Senado!” (Time for fisherfolk in the Senate.)
A fisherfolk in Laguna de Bay, Arambulo has been a local leader since 2008, advancing the rights and welfare of the country’s poorest sector as well as leading grassroots campaigns in defense of coastal communities and fishing grounds against reclamation, conversion and privatization.
Arambulo said his Senatorial bid is to advance the agenda of the fisherfolk sector for sovereign and fishing rights.
“I welcome the challenge of the Makabayan Coalition to be part of its senatorial slate in order for us to further advance the rights of the fisherfolk sektor,” Arambulo said.
He noted that there had been no one from their sector who dared participate in national elections, especially as the fisherfolk had been suffering from extreme poverty.
“In the West Philippine Sea, Filipinos are prevented from fishing by the increased presence of Chinese and even United States military. There must be someone in the Senate who would push that we rid of foreign military presence in our territory,” he said.
Arambulo added that he will make accountable those responsible for calamities and reclamation wreaking havoc in fishing grounds such as Manila Bay.
Poor fisherfolk from Rizal
A staunch champion of Filipino fishing rights within the territorial waters and the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Arambulo worked alongside fellow fisherfolk in Zambales and other parts of Central Luzon in demanding foreign powers leave Philippine waters.
He also led protest actions at the Chinese Consulate to denounce the Chinese government’s continuing blockade and harassment of Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea.
Arambulo led the collective fishing expedition last May off the waters of Masinloc, Zambales in defiance of Beijing’s unilateral fishing ban declaration.
Last month, he helped organize the fluvial protest action off Subic, Zambales to mark the eight year of the arbitral ruling in the South China Sea.
Arambulo was a former six-year councilor of Barangay Malakaban, Binangonan, Rizal.
Endorsements
Fisherfolk leaders from Zambales and Manila Bay, along with environmental groups, student organizations were present at Monday’s proclamation endorsing Arambulo’s candidacy.
In a separate statement, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) expressed full support to Arambulo’s “sincere intent to run for a Senate seat in the 2025 elections.”
Fellow Makabayan Coalition candidates ACT Teacher’s Party Rep. France Castro and Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary general Jerome Adonis also personally endorsed Arambulo’s candidacy.
Earlier, Castro, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas, Adonis, and former anti-poverty secretary and former Bayan Muna and Gabriela Party Rep. Liza Maza announced their participation in next year’s national elections. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
