Chel Diokno is set to join Congress as Akbayan leads the party-list race, where he is a top nominee.
Photo: Chel Diokno/Facebook
According to the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) latest partial and unofficial results as of this writing, Akbayan has garnered a significant 2,750,526 votes.
With this result, Akbayan will claim a maximum of three congressional seats, alongside second and third nominees Percival Cendaña and Haima Kiram Ismula.
This marks Diokno’s first successful bid for public office, following unsuccessful attempts at a Senate seat in 2019 and 2022.
In a social media post, the human rights lawyer expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported and campaigned for Akbayan, describing the party-list’s victory as a result of their trust, conviction, and collective action.
“Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang saya at pasasalamat na nararamdaman ko ngayon. Over 2.2 million votes and counting — isang tagumpay na bunga ng inyong tiwala, ng ating paninindigan, at ng sama-samang pagkilos para sa isang makatao at makatarungang lipunan,” he said.
“Sa aking mga Cheldren, at sa bawat isa na nakipag-Akbayan sa amin — sa kalsada, sa social media, at sa mga komunidad — kayo ang tunay na bayani ng laban na ito. Hindi kami nakarating dito kung wala ang inyong pagmamahal at suporta.”
Diokno also thanked Senator Risa Hontiveros for her unwavering support for Akbayan, adding, “Lubos ang pasasalamat ko kay Sen. Risa Hontiveros sa kanyang pamumuno sa tagumpay na ito. We also share this victory with our allies in our fight for a better future: Sen. Bam Aquino, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, ML Party-list nominee Leila de Lima, Naga Mayor-elect Leni Robredo, former COA Commissioner Heidi Mendoza, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, and Dinagat Rep. Kaka Bag-ao.”
“Ngayon, may mas malakas tayong boses sa Kongreso — at gagamitin natin ito para sa kapakanan ng mga nasa laylayan, at para ipaglaban ang ating soberanya at demokrasya. Ito ang simula ng panibagong yugto. At sa laban na ito, magka-akbay tayo. Muli, taos-pusong pasasalamat,” he concluded.
As the son of the late senator and nationalist Jose “Ka Pepe” W. Diokno, he has carried on his father’s legacy of defending democracy and upholding human rights.
Diokno has been a key figure in the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), a nationwide organization of human rights lawyers that provides free legal assistance to marginalized individuals. He is also the founding dean of the De La Salle University College of Law and currently serves as chairman of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation.
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