Liza Maza is running again for Senate seat to protest rotten politics

MANILA, Philippines — Liza Maza has held many positions throughout her career in public service and activism — sometimes part of the government and sometimes a vocal critic of it — but the 67-year-old former Gabriel party-list representative still seems to think there is more work to be done.

On Thursday’s show, Maza announced she would run again for the Senate in 2025 (a position she ran for but failed to win in 2010) in protest at the country’s still-widespread corruption and corrupt politics.

“I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen all sorts of things. Corruption and mindless greed. I’ve witnessed how they consistently block every pro-people initiative because at its core it serves the interests of the ruling elite. The system is truly rotten,” Maza, who was a lead organizer of the National Poverty Eradication Commission (NAPC) under former President Rodrigo Duterte, said in her speech.

“The same thing is happening all over again. All previous administrations have instituted neoliberal policies that only serve the interests of a few,” she added.

Maza’s announcement means the Makabayan Coalition — which brings together progressive groups including the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives — now has four candidates in the 2025 by-elections, including:

ACT Rep. France Castro Teachers Party List

Party representative Gabriela Arlene Brosas

Secretary General Kilusang Mayo Uno Jerome Adonis

READ: Gabriela, a member of Rep. Brosas party, says she will run for senator in 2025

According to Maza, their candidacies will aim to put an end to populist policies, which she said are usually associated with a lack of action needed to pull the country out of poverty.

“Every election, people are lied to, candidates play sweet and promise many things that will make people drown in the crisis. Filipinos are fed up with it,” she said. “We will push for real agrarian reform, cooperatives and agricultural modernization.”

“These things would ensure that the country’s wealth and the fruits of the economy are distributed equally. We need pro-Filipino and pro-people policies and policies of change. We need to prioritize the interests and demands of the Filipino people,” she added.

Maza’s supporters also come from other sectors: Dolores Balladares of Migrante Hong Kong said there was unanimity among overseas Filipino workers in supporting Maza’s Senate candidacy.

“That is why when we learned that Liza Maza would be running for senator, we, the overseas workers, were quick to show our unanimous support for her, not only in the Asia-Pacific region but all over the world,” she said.

Celia Veloso, the mother of trafficking victim Mary Jane Veloso, who is still imprisoned in Indonesia, also believes her daughter has a chance of returning home if Maza wins a seat in the Senate

“When I heard the news that Liza Maza would run for the Senate, my spirits rose. There is hope that Mary Jane will return. Therefore, Liza, we will ensure your victory,” Veloso said.

Brosas said Maza’s unprecedented “commitment to women’s rights and social justice” would be an asset to the Senate if she wins the 2025 election.

“As a legislator, she has played a key role in passing important laws such as the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2003, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act (Anti-VAWC) and the Juvenile Justice Act, which continue to protect and empower marginalized groups in our society,” Brosas said.

“This is a crucial moment for us to rally around candidates like Liza Maza who have consistently defended the rights of women, workers and the poor. We call on Filipino women and people to stand with us in support of her candidacy and in opposing all forms of state repression,” she added. With reports from Ysabel Escalona, ​​intern