Philippines: PLM officially recognised as political party of the marginalised sectors

Statement by Sonny Melencio, chairperson, Partido Lakas ng Masa (Party of the Labouring Masses)

September 23, 2012 – Partido Lakas ng Masa – The petition for certification of Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) as a national political party was approved by the Commission on Elections on September 19, 2012.  With this approval, the fight for a national political party representing the marginalised sectors has escalated to new heights.

This is a confirmation of the PLM’s three and half years of existence and its expansion as a political party with a mass constituency and grassroots chapter-formations.  PLM members belong to the basic sectors of the Filipino masses, which include workers, farmers, public transport drivers, vendors and the urban poor in the 12 administrative regions in the country. A majority of our members are women.

The PLM's growth and expansion is a validation of PLM’s unceasing struggle to dismantle the elite system of political and economic rule in the country, and replace it with full democracy under a government of the masa [masses].

This is an affirmation of the correctness of PLM’s advocacy for a socialist society to supplant the moribund and profit-oriented capitalist system today. PLM’s Plataporma ng Masa is also gaining support from the masses as a concrete and urgent platform for national survival and social justice.

The PLM extends its gratitude to all its members, especially the leaders and members of the PLM chapters in the 12 territorial regions in the country; the founding organisations which originally formed the party, from the labour, transport, farmers, urban poor and youth sectors; and all other individuals, groups and organisations which have extended assistance and support to the party.

The PLM will now step up its activity for the coming 2013 elections. The PLM will intervene as a national political party by fielding and supporting local candidates at the grassroots level.  As of today, the PLM is already running councillors in Marikina City and Taytay in Metro Manila, a mayor in GMA, Cavite, and a vice-mayor in San Pablo City. The PLM is also calling for the unification of the progressive party lists in the country, and will give concrete backing to party list organisations which adhere to PLM’s platform and beliefs.

Mabuhay kayong lahat, mga kasama!  Mabuhay ang PLM!