Labor leader Sonny Matula runs for Senate anew, optimistic about alliances

MANILA, Philippines – In his third try for a Senate seat, labor leader Sonny Matula is optimistic his campaign will only go up.

Matula, lawyer and president of the Federation of Free Workers as well as the Workers and Peasants Party of the Philippines (WPP), filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) before the Commission on Elections on Saturday, October 5.

His three priorities are the following: advancing the proposed legislated minimum wage hike of at least P100, ending contractualization, and strengthening workers’ freedom to associate without threats or red-tagging.

“Panahon na na ang mga manggagawa ay may representante sa Senado. Marami na tayong artista, marami na tayong kasapi ng dinastiya. Manggagawa naman sa Senado. Tayo po ang alternatibo ng mga obrero. Walang tunay at mahusay na magsalita para sa mga manggagawa maliban sa mga taong nagmumula sa mga manggagawa,” said Matula.

(It is time for workers to have a representative at the Senate. There are too many celebrities and scions of dynasties. It’s time that workers have a turn at the Senate. Workers are the alternative. No one has the capacity to speak more authentically for workers except for those who come from the sector.)

The Philippines has been on the International Trade Union Confederation’s list of 10 worst countries for workers for eight consecutive years due to persistent labor rights violations.

Not discouraged

Reflecting on his third time running after losing in 2019 and 2022, Matula remained unfazed, saying that “great leaders” also faced failure.

He pointed to the stories of Brazilian President Lula Da Silva, and late former US president Abraham Lincoln, who experienced several losses before they won.

Matula’s support base has gotten bigger with each campaign. When he first ran in 2019, he garnered almost 400,000 votes. In 2022, when former vice president Leni Robredo added Matula to her Senate slate, his vote count improved to 2.66 million.

“Tayo po ay dumaan na sa mga maraming kampanya. Palagay ko naman ay may kapital na tayo na nakilala ng mga manggagawa…. At palagay ko pataas pa ‘yan. At palagay ko ay tataas pa at maaari natin ipanalo ang laban na ito,” he said.

(We have gone through many campaigns. I believe we have capital now that workers have recognized… and I believe that [our votes] will increase. I believe that we can bring them higher and win this fight.)

Broader alliances in the making

Matula is running under the WPP banner, but is seeking broader alliances with other opposition-aligned groups.

The first tie-up will be with the Partido Demokratiko-Sosyalista headed by former defense secretary Norberto Gonzales. Matula said they planned to hold an engagement with hundreds of workers in Laguna on Sunday, October 6.

Matula also said that he did not see other labor leaders vying for Senate seats as competition. On Friday, October 4, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) leaders Leody de Guzman and Luke Espiritu filed their COCs for senator as well.

“Sinusuportahan din natin sila kung magpafile sila ng kanilang kandidatura. May inisyal na kami mga pag-uusap ng mga leader sa BMP, ng mga leader sa KMU (Kilusang Mayo Uno), at sa iba pang trade union. At hindi natin sila kakompetensya. Sila ay mga kasama natin para ipanalo ang agenda ng mga manggagawa,” he said.

(We will also support them if they file their candidacies. We have had initial talks with the leaders of BMP, KMU, and other trade unions. They are not our competitors. They are with us in bringing the workers’ agenda to victory.)

Others Matula mentioned he is in talks with are the Liberal Party and former senator Dick Gordon. He said that becoming a guest candidate of the liberals was “a possibility.” – Rappler.com