Former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales and longtime anti-Marcos activist Leodegario “Ka Leody” de Guzman on Wednesday filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for president in the 2022 elections.
Gonzales, who also served as National Security Adviser under the Arroyo administration, will run under the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP).
Labor leader De Guzman is running under Partido Lakas ng Masa, a Commission on Elections-accredited political party that is also fielding a senatorial candidate, lawyer Luke Espiritu, and running under the party-list system.
In a brief speech, Gonzales said he aims to change the “rotten” political system in the country, citing his almost decade-long stint in the government.
“ In my almost a decade in government service, I saw how important it is the kind of politics and politicians we have,” he said.
“ I can see that many will join me in going across the country and saying that it’s time to change the rotten politics in our country.”
Gonzales, who described himself as a social democrat, said there may be a need to amend the country’s Charter to change the old political system.
Saying there is much to be improved in the Duterte administration’s COVID-19 response, Gonzales said he wants to see scientists and members of the medical community “to be given the upper hand.”
Accompanied by hundreds of workers and supporters, “Ka Leody” is the presidential candidate of Laban ng Masa, a coalition of Left and progressive organizations and individuals united on a common platform with a socialist direction.
Born to a peasant family, De Guzman is a former garments worker and current chairperson of the Bukluran ng Mangggawang Pilipino (BMP), one of the country’s largest labor groups.
His decision to run for the presidency has been described by supporters as a “historic first”: he is the first socialist and working-class candidate for the presidency since 1946 and he has vowed to challenge what he calls “elite rule” and “trapo politics.”
In his statement at the Comelec, Ka Leody decried the marginalization of workers in national politics despite the crucial role they play in the economy.
“Oras na para marinig, mapakinggan at masunod ang boses at kapasyahan ng milyon-milyong manggagawa,” he said.
Ka Leody, who was involved in the anti-dictatorship movement during the 1980s and who was also at the forefront of protests against Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in recent years, also promised to help stop the Marcoses from returning to Malacanang.
“If Comelec allows Bongbong to run for the presidency, then it has turned a blind eye to the untold sufferings of those killed, maimed, tortured, jailed, and abducted by the Marcos dictatorship,” Ka Leody said.
“We are prepared to unite with all democratic forces, even with the elite opposition, to prevent the return of the Marcoses in Malacanang. But the working class must not be duped or used to serve the interests of any of the elite factions. It must maintain its class independence,” he added.