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Manibela's Mar Valbuena files his certificate of candidacy for senator on Oct. 7, 2024. Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, ABS-CBN News

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Mar Valbuena

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1728288852686IMG_2937.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Manibela&#x27;s Mar Valbuena files his certificate of candidacy for senator on Oct. 7, 2024. Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Manibela&#x27;s Mar Valbuena files his certificate of candidacy for senator on Oct. 7, 2024. Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Transport leader Mario &quot;Mar&quot; Valbuena explained on Monday why he ran for senator instead of seeking a party-list seat in the House of Representatives as they originally intended.</p><p>&quot;Yung application po namin for accreditation ng party-list ng Manibela, dineny po nang hindi man lang ako nakatanggap ng kahit anong resolusyon,&quot; he said after filing<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"> his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator. </span></p><div><span id="isPasted">(Our application to have Manibela accredited as a party-list was denied without my even receiving a copy of the resolution)</span></div><div><span>He said that Manibela&#x27;s lawyer had failed to inform the group of the development, which led to &quot;lapses&quot;. </span><span>He said Manibela has since fired the lawyer.</span></div><div><span><strong>GROUP HAD NO CHANCE TO SEEK RECONSIDERATION</strong></span><strong><br/></strong></div><p>Valbuena said he only received a copy of the resolution from the Commission of Elections (Comelec) saying their party-list was not on the list of accredited ones last Friday.</p><p>But he explained he has yet to receive the earlier resolution on the deficiencies in their application for party-list accreditation.</p><p>&quot;Hindi man lang kami naka pag MR. Nagpadala kami ng manifestation na sana mapakinggan parin kami, pero ganun siguro ho mahirap po magpa-accredit,&quot; he shared.</p><p>(We were not even able to file a Motion for Reconsideration. We sent a manifestation that we be given a chance to be heard, but I suppose it is really difficult to get accredited)</p><p>He said that the development suggests that even established sectoral groups do not stand a chance if &quot;they have no money or connections.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/7/pimentel-charter-change-needed-to-bring-back-essence-of-party-list-system-1551">• Pimentel: Charter change needed to bring back essence of party-list system<br/></a></div><div><strong>&#x27;STRUGGLE EVERY DAY, NOT JUST DURING ELECTIONS&#x27;<br/></strong></div><p>After learning Manibela&#x27;s party-list bid was denied, Valbuena said he decided to take the fight for transport sector workers to the Senate instead.</p><p>&quot;Hindi lamang tuwing eleksyon, araw-araw nakikipagbuno kami pero hindi namin nakakalimutan mag-serbisyo sa taumbayan,&quot; Valbuena said.</p><p>(We continue the struggle every day, nut just during elections, but we do not forget that we must serve the people)</p><p>The transport leader was welcomed by dozens of jeepney drivers from across the country at the Quirino Grandstand, a show of support for the transport leader.</p><p>During their send-off program, the drivers who mostly came from Metro Manila, said they decided not to ply their routes to join Valbuena as he formalized his senatorial bid.</p><p>Valbuena joins a Senate race that is <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/4/makabayan-s-11-member-senate-slate-bares-their-legislative-agenda-1036">also being contested by Mody Floranda, president of transport group Piston</a>, which has worked with Manibela in the campaign against the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.</p><p>The program aims to consolidate jeepney drivers and operators into cooperatives, which the government said will lead to modern jeepney fleets. </p><p>Valbuena&#x27;s group Manibela has been part of transport strikes in protest of the PUV modernization program, which they say will phase out traditional jeepneys and replace them with more expensive models.</p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier rejected the Senate&#x27;s call to suspend the implementation of the program. He said the April 30 deadline for consolidation is final.</p><p>Transport regulators said 83 percent or 159,683 of public utility vehicles have consolidated since the April 30 deadline.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gyug-Zlrsmc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Transport leader Mario "Mar" Valbuena explained on Monday why he ran for senator instead of seeking a party-list seat in the House of Representatives as they originally intended.</p>

Transport leader Mario "Mar" Valbuena explained on Monday why he ran for senator instead of seeking a party-list seat in the House of Representatives as they originally intended.

Manibela chair joins Senate race after Comelec flags down party-list bid

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Manibela chair joins Senate race after Comelec flags down party-list bid

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 07, 2024 04:44 PM PHT

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Updated October 07, 2024 06:04 PM PHT

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Mar Valbuena

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