Diokno joins Akbayan

Senate PRIB

Human rights advocate Chel Diokno formally took his oath as member of Akbayan Party, forging a formidable alliance for the 2025 midterm elections.

Diokno was sworn in by Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Sept. 17, Akbayan Party president Rafaela David and human rights champion Etta Rosales also present.

Prior to joining Akbayan, Diokno had been working with the party to defend civil liberties through the Free Legal Assistance Group, which he chairs.

“Our partnership was further solidified in the previous elections, a testament to our shared values and common cause against the Duterte regime,” he said.

Hontiveros said Akbayan’s founding 26 years ago was partly inspired by the human rights advocacy of Diokno’s father, former Sen. Jose “Ka Pepe” Diokno. Akbayan’s 50,000-strong electoral network—composed of party members and allied mass movements—is ready to support the human rights advocate in the 2025 elections, the party said in a statement. —Contributed PHOTO