Getting to know the strong-willed Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña and his advocacies

 

Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña filed House Bill 11078 or the ‘Bawal Judgemental’ Bill pushing for accessibility of marginalized communities who wish to make simple transactions with gov’t offices that offer frontline services. According to Rep. Cendaña, strict dress codes that have no relation to the frontline services being accessed onlyl end up discriminating against the poor and indigenous communities.

“Sadly, yung policy na strict na dresscodes ay nagreresulta sa pagtataboy sa mga marginalized communities. Gusto natin tanggalin yung pagiging judgemental sa dress or attire lalo na kung hindi naman konektado sa nasabing serbisyo yung pananamit,” according to Rep. Cendaña.

“We want government frontline services to be truly accessible. Hindi lahat afford ang outfit check. We want government offices to welcome everyone no matter your socioeconomic status,” Cendaña added.

House Bill 11078 also called the Open Door Policy Act will prohibit government offices with frontline services to impose dress codes for citizens engaging in simple transactions with the said offices if the prescribed attire and footwear is not essential or integral to the transaction.

I welcome the statement of support for the urgent passage of the SOGIESC Equality Bill by members of the UP College of Law Faculty. This declaration is a testament that the SOGIESC Equality Bill is grounded on the principles of our laws and constitution.

This legislation is an affirmation of every individual's rights and dignity, and an recognition and protection of those most vulnerable to violence and hate.

I echo the UP College Faculty Members' call on all law students in particular and the broader society in general to stand behind the SOGIESC Equality Bill to help build a country free of discrmination, hate, and abuse.

Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña has called former President Rodrigo Duterte’s latest dare to the International Criminal Court (ICC) an empty bluff, vowing that Akbayan stands ready to bring Duterte to justice at the ICC following his bold remarks at the recent House Quad Committee hearing.

When asked if he would cooperate with the ICC’s investigation, Duterte dismissed the need for delay, urging the ICC to begin the probe “as soon as tomorrow.” He even quipped that the Quad Committee should fund his trip to the ICC.

In response, Cendaña affirmed that they are willing to call Duterte's bluff and ensure he faces the ICC.

“Let’s go, Mr. Duterte, to the ICC. We are prepared to help bring you there and hold you accountable for the thousands of innocent lives lost under your bloody drug war,” Cendaña stated.

Cendaña emphasized that Duterte’s challenge to the ICC reveals more than just an invitation; it exposes a man attempting to control the narrative while evading serious allegations. Duterte’s administration has been implicated in widespread human rights abuses, with over 6,500 official deaths of alleged drug suspects and far higher numbers reported by human rights advocates.

“Duterte’s claim to welcome an ICC probe ‘tomorrow’ rings hollow, especially after years of avoiding accountability. His words are a desperate tactic to deflect and manipulate,” Cendaña asserted. “But justice is relentless, and the truth will not be intimidated by theatrics.” #

Akbayan Partylist Representative Perci Cendaña brushed aside as empty threats former president Rodrigo Duterte’s intention to intimidate the House Quad Committee members as the body announced that it would continue its hearing on Wednesday. The legislator, who has recently joined the House Committee on Human Rights and by extension the QuadComm, said Duterte’s usual antics would no longer work with the House of Representatives.

“Kung sinubukan niyang lusubin ang Senado, hindi niya ‘yan magagawa sa Kongreso. We’ll make sure to utilize the committee hearing to ferret out the truth,” according to Cerdaña.

“We hope to use his arrogance against him. Sa sobrang lasing niya sa kayabangan sa Senate hearing, hinukay niya ang sarili niyang libingan. His unrestrained display of bravado dug his own political grave,” Cendaña said.

The Akbayan legislator also mentioned that Duterte’s goal in attending the QuadComm aside from drawing cheers from his supporters by intimidating the committees’ members is to also mitigate the explosive confessions he made during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe into the Duterte drug war.

“Asahan natin na iga-gaslight tayo o sasabihin niya joke lang ang lahat ng kanyang pag-amin under oath para makaiwas siya sa pananagutan. But guess what? The joke’s on him. Justice is on his heels, and neither his antics nor his arrogance will derail the path toward truth and accountability," Cendaña asserted.  

The QuadComm’s resumption of its hearing comes after Duterte Spokesperson Sal Panelo announced Duterte’s intention to join the QuadComm hearing for Wednesday despite its postponement to a later date. #

Akbayan Partylist today called for the urgent passage of the "Kian Bill" to protect innocent civilians, particularly youth and minors, from the brutal impacts of state-sanctioned violence.

Named after Kian Delos Santos—the young boy whose life was taken by police forces in Caloocan during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s violent anti-drug campaign—House Bill No. 11004 aims to prevent further victimization of innocent people and pivot the government’s approach to a public health framework and bring to justice both the drug lords who have largely evaded accountability and the enforcers responsible for extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in the infamous Tokhang operations.

In a press conference in Quezon City, Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña stressed the need for accountability across the board. "Sila Duterte ang totoong mga druglords. We need to jail and punish both the drug lords who were left untouched by Duterte’s bloody drug war and his Tokhang cops who killed innocent civilians. Sa madugong war on drugs ni Digong, maraming inosenteng buhay ang napatay, habang ang mga kilalang drug personalities ay binigyan ng proteksyon," he said.

“Kailangan natin itong Kian Bill upang ‘di na mabiktima ang mga inosente. We need to ban Tokhang-style operations, illegal police operations, unlawful raids, and other terror-inducing and cruel methods that have traumatized urban poor communities yet spared the drug kingpins,” Cendaña underscored.

Meanwhile, Fr. Flavie Villanueva of Program Paghilom expressed hope as the Kian Bill is a step towards healing for the thousands of drug war victims' families.

"The victims' families deserve healing and justice. ‘Yung pagbibigay ng tutok at pansin ng gobyerno sa karahasan na ginawa sa kanila ay panimula lamang nito.," he said.

Randy delos Santos, uncle of Kian, also said that he "hopes that the bloody war on drugs will be the last and that the wheels of justice will finally turn for the victims."

Akbayan First Nominee Atty. Chel Diokno called on the recently formed Department of Justice (DOJ) task force to closely examine Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s involvement in the bloody Drug War. As former Chief of the Philippine National Police, Dela Rosa directly implemented Tokhang policies, a directive that many view as a green light for EJKs.

“The DOJ must carefully scrutinize Senator Bato’s role in this dark chapter of our history,” Diokno said. “As the chief architect of Tokhang, his issuance of CMC 16-2016, calling for the neutralization of drug suspects, reflects his complicity, further reinforced by Duterte’s public admission of sanctioning these killings.”

Diokno also challenged Bato to back the Kian Bill if he is sincere about seeking justice for victims like Kian. It can be recalled that in the first Senate hearing on the Duterte administration's drug war, a teary-eyed Dela Rosa expressed his sadness over Delos Santos' killing. "Kung taos-puso talaga ang pakikidalamhati ni Senator Bato sa pamilya ni Kian at sa marami pang inosenteng Kian na pinatay ng madugong drug war, hinahamon namin siyang suportahan ang pagpasa ng Kian Bill. We challenge him to walk the talk and put deeds behind the tears," Diokno said. #

Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña today filed the “Kian Bill” also known as the Public Health Approach to Drug Use Act to provide humane solutions to the drug problem while also giving robust protections for individuals’ rights. According to Rep. Cendaña the proposed bill is a 180-degree turn from the previous Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs which killed more than 30,000 people.

“The Kian Bill prevents the killing of more innocent Kians. Imbes na dahas at bala, solusyon natin ang magbigay ng karampatang lunas at direktang lingap sa mga drug users,” according to Rep. Cendaña.

“The proposed law bans the use of Tokhang or drug lists, torture, unlawful police interference, and other cruel methods used in the drug war,” Rep. Cendaña stressed.

The Kian Bill also has a counterpart measure in the upper house filed by Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros. The bill provides a community-based health approach and social support interventions. Recently, the war on drugs has received greater public scrutiny with the House of Representatives' QuadComm investigating former President Duterte's involvement in EJKs coupled with his recent admission in the Senate of the existence of the Davao Death Squad, his admin's past PNP chiefs' involvement, and ordering police officers to provoke drug suspects to justify their killing. #

Young supporters of Akbayan Partylist gathered today in a spirited show of solidarity as the group’s nominees—Rep. Perci Cendaña, Atty. Chel Diokno, and Moro women and indigenous people's leader Dadah Kiram Ismula—filed their Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). The lively sendoff featured a teal-themed rally, complete with a pep squad from Akbayan Youth leading chants and waving pompoms, showcasing the energy and optimism of the party's grassroots base.

Despite the festive atmosphere, Akbayan, which is the political party of Senator Risa Hontiveros, recognizes the challenges of the coming election and remains committed to representing genuine reform against entrenched political dynasties.

“Imbes na interes ng sariling pamilya ang isusulong ng mga nakaupo sa Kongreso, ang kailangan ng bayan ngayon ang mga mambabatas na lalaban para sa kapakanan ng ordinaryong Pilipino,” said Atty. Chel Diokno said, emphasizing his choice to fight alongside Akbayan in the partylist race. “Solid ang track record at plataporma ng Akbayan Partylist—progresibo, makatao at para sa bayan. Ang Akbayan ay naniniwala na ang Tunay na power ng bayan ay ang pwersa ng mamamayang Pilipino.”

Rep. Perci Cendaña for his part, highlighted Akbayan's long-standing reputation for public service and reform. "Akbayan’s track record is beyond doubt. We are not just the longest-serving partylist organization; our record speaks for itself. From fighting for the RH Law, CARPER, Cheaper Medicines Act to the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, Mental Health Act, and the Bawal Bastos Law, Akbayan has consistently stood at the forefront of meaningful reforms . We will also participate in the Quad hearings to hold the Dutertes and others involved accountable for the bloody drug war that killed thousands."

Third nominee, Dadah Kiram Ismula, expressed her determination to champion the rights of Moro women and indigenous communities. "We need true representation in Congress—one that understands the struggles of marginalized communities. As a Moro woman and an advocate for indigenous peoples, I will fight to ensure that the voices of our communities are heard, respected, and valued."

Akbayan Youth Chairperson and partylist fourth nominee Justine Balane also shared her enthusiasm, noting the dynamic role of young people in the party. "Akbayan may be the longest-serving partylist, but we are eternally young. We are proud of our very robust young membership that keeps us vibrant, passionate, and ready to pursue real change."

In addition to running in the partylist race, Akbayan is asserting its status as a progressive national political party by fielding over a hundred candidates in local races, from municipal to provincial positions, in the upcoming 2025 elections.