HOTSPOT

Satur Ocampo and France Castro are in a unique position among political figures of the Philippine Left, as they fight a conviction for child abuse.
Together with friends, we campaigned with and for Ka Satur over two decades ago when he led Bayan Muna to the top of the 2001 partylist race, then a spectacular achievement for leftist politics. He would serve as chair of the House special committee on peace, reconciliation and unity.

Imagine that, one of the country’s most prominent leftist statesmen leading a House committee. But who would be better to head a peace panel, than someone with the experience as peacemaker and peace negotiator?

As lawmaker, Ka Satur became known as a staunch critic of the sitting president, a fellow Kapampangan. In its first terms in Congress, many local Bayan Muna leaders were turned into martyrs in a spate of extrajudicial killings during the administration of President Arroyo, investigated by UN special rapporteur Philip Alston.

We may not always agree with the left and all its means, but I think nobody can doubt the integrity and courage of activists, especially those who died for causes they hold dear. In the case of Ka Satur’s Bayan Muna, it is new politics and the politics of change, and the belief that politics should be made to work for and represent workers, farmers, fisherfolk, women, the youth, OFWs, jeepney drivers, government employees, national minorities, LGBTs and other marginalized and underrepresented sectors.

Ka Satur fought and won vindication in the celebrated Batasan six case, which was about an alleged conspiracy to overthrow the government. If one re-reads the information filed by prosecutors and the affidavits of witnesses, the only logical reaction would be to simultaneously laugh and cry. Lawmakers supposedly took time out to leave the Batasan at dark, scale hills, and one by one join a meeting where they hatched their conspiracy. One witness made the stunning discovery as he was relieving himself!

I remember this case because I was press officer for Congressman Satur at the time, and it is the same feeling that I had when the state filed child abuse and kidnapping charges against him and Congresswoman France Castro. Why indeed would Ka Satur and Teacher France go to areas of conflict? Why would they risk their safety and security there, other than to check the situation of Lumad children and their teachers? In the case of Teacher France, those are obviously constituents. As for Ka Satur, the veteran lawmaker’s presence might shine a light on the underreported events.

But since we live in dystopian times, somehow the issues of Lumad killings, closure of Lumad schools, and the announced sale of Lumad ancestral domain — issues where public sentiments are generally sympathetic to the Lumad — suddenly got substituted with child abuse and kidnapping. Advocates like Ka Satur and Teacher France became the criminals, not those who kill Lumads, not those who close or torch Lumad schools, not those who seek to sell out Lumad ancestral domain. Under a fair judge, the conviction would hopefully be overturned and the two leaders vindicated.

As Ka Satur and Teacher France fight the case in court, there’s no stopping their cause, as we have seen in the consecutive declarations of activists running for senator. In fact, Teacher France was the first to accept the challenge to run for senator in 2025 under Makabayan. Living up to its reason for being as a political coalition aspiring to contest elective offices, Makabayan and its member-parties are fielding candidates not just for partylist, but for all 12 open seats in the Senate.

Morally-inferior parties and persons with weaker constitutions would have wilted, withered away or capitulated, had they faced all the challenges and predicaments put along the path of Makabayan. But that they persevere, and keep on offering people an alternative slate and platform even to the extent that they face such suffering, is a badge of honor for this band of dreamers, changemakers and activists in Congress and the Parliament of the Streets.
Thus far, Makabayan offers as senatorial candidates Teacher France, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, trade unionist Jerome Adonis, former Secretary Liza Maza, fisherfolk leader Ronnel Arambulo, and former lawmaker Teddy Casiño. More names are coming as Makabayan urges Filipinos to reimagine politics and the Senate race, and to massively reject red-tagging.

As activists would say, the struggle continues.