As the first senatorial candidate to visit Cabadbaran City in Mindanao, former senator Bam Aquino on Thursday, March 13, made a promise to be the voice for the rights of indigenous peoples and their ancestral domain if he wins another seat in Senate.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL--Independent senatorial candidate Bam Aquino speaks to the indigenous peoples of Cabadbaran City in Mindanao on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Bam Aquino Media Bureau)
The former senator and youth leader, who is running in the May 2025 midterm polls, listened to the issues raised by the community.
Some of the topics they raised were the lack of livelihood, the problem with access to clean water, and their ancestral domain issue.
“Puwede tayong magpa-hearing tungkol sa ancestral domain, tungkol sa Barangay Puting Bato, at paghaharap-harapin natin ang iba’t ibang mga ahensiya, para linawin atin na ang lupa ng indigenous people, ang lupa po ninyo, ay lupa po ninyo at walang magmamay-aring iba (We can hold a hearing about the ancestral domain, about Barangay Puting Bato, we will have the agencies meet face-to-face, to clear up the land of the indigenous people, your land is yours),” Aquino told the community.
The former senator promised that he would take up in the Senate the issues they raised to him if he wins a seat.
He said that he would stand for the rights of IP communities and will become their voice in the Senate.
Aquino also assured funding for clean water, livelihood, and education.
The former senator is advocating for free education and guaranteed employment to uplift Filipinos.