Reacting to a statement of Senate president Vicente Sotto III last November 10 likening the Philippines to an ICU patient, presidential bet of Partido Lakas ng Masa, Ka Leody de Guzman dared his fellow candidates to reveal their platform on women.
Ka Leody said: “Totoong tila nasa ICU na ang kondisyon ng Pilipinas dahil sa kaliwa’t kanang krisis na nagdadala ng kagutuman, karahasan, at kahirapan. Kung tunay na sinsero ang mga kapwa ko kandidato na iangat ang pamumuhay ng ating mga kababayan, dapat nilang ilahad ang plataporma nila para iangat ang kalagayan ng mga mahihirap, partikular ang sektor ng kababaihan.”
In the recent interview, the vice-presidential bet described the current Philippine situation as comparable to a patient in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) citing the pandemic, the country’s ballooning debt, and rampant corruption as manifestations. Ka Leody likewise recognized the “ICU condition” that the country has been enduring over the past years. However, the labor leader also emphasized that women bear the greatest burden in the face of the health, economic and climate crises.
“Kababaihan ang pumapasan ng bigat ng epekto ng lumalalang krisis sa ekonomiya, kalusugan, at klima mula sa malawakang tanggalan sa trabaho at pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, dagdag pa ang kawalan ng proteksyon mula sa domestic violence at maging serbisyo para sa reproductive health,” Ka Leody elaborated..
Concerned with the country’s “national survival,” he pointed out that crisis response must be anchored to serve the interest and needs of women. Ka Leody said that empowerment would only be possible if gender minorities are prioritized and are directly involved in governance vowing to prioritize women and members of LGBTQIA in filling positions in the Cabinet.
“Ang ating national survival ang nakataya kung hindi mabibigyan ng tugon ang mga krisis na pasan-pasan ng mamamayan lalo na ng mga kababaihan. Magkakaroon lamang ng maayos na serbisyo at malawak na oportunidad para sa mga minoryang kasarian kung sila mismo ay direktang kasama sa pamamahala at prayoridad sa serbisyo. Kung gayon, nais ko rin ng mga maaasahang lider mula sa hanay ng kababaihan at LGBTQIA sa gabinete kung ako’y papalarin.” Ka Leody added.
The labor leader also previously declared his support to the decriminalisation of abortion, same-sex unions, and divorce which are included in the 2022 electoral platform released by Laban ng Masa. Meanwhile, other national candidates have yet to release their official platforms, and programs concerning gender equality.
