THOUSANDS OF FARMERS SELECT ATTY. ARGEL CABATBAT AS MAGSASAKA PARTY-LIST NOMINEE

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — The Magsasaka Partylist officially submitted its list of nominees to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, naming Atty. Argel Cabatbat as their top candidate for the House of Representatives.

The group expressed confidence that Cabatbat is the right choice to represent the farming community.

Cabatbat, who serves as chairman of the Magsasaka Party-list, led the filing, accompanied by fellow Council of Leaders members Mario Palacay and Reynaldo Dela Peña.

This decision follows a Supreme Court ruling affirming the removal of Soliman Villamin Jr. from his position as National Chairperson. The High Court declared that Villamin could no longer act as a representative for the group, citing his valid removal from leadership.

The official nominees for the Magsasaka Party-list include:

1. Argel Joseph Cabatbat – Incumbent Representative of Magsasaka Party-list, Farmers’ Lawyer

2. Ariel T. Cayanan – Former Department of Agriculture Undersecretary

3. Dante A. Lazatin – Regional Manager, Irrigators Association, Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System, and a farmer

4. Rafael Naral – Former Mayor of Anao, Tarlac, and farmer

5. Reynaldo Dela Peña – Farmer-leader, President of Farmers Association, Orion, Bataan

6. Dennis Zuñiga – Chairman of the Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Aurora Province

7. Mario Palacay – Farmer and former Chairman of the Municipal Agricultural and Fisheries Council, Floridablanca, Pampanga

8. George G. Cabatbat – Farmer and former Councilor of Guimba, Nueva Ecija

9. Mark Joseph T. Cabatbat – Certified Public Accountant and co-founder of Magsasaka Outlet

10. Marx Josef Mission – National Coordinator for the Party-list

The announcement was made after a special general assembly and victory celebration attended by 7,996 delegates from Region 3, representing provinces such as Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Aurora.

Cabatbat reiterated that the Magsasaka Party-list is firmly rooted in the interests of Filipino farmers.

“The true owners of the Magsasaka Party-list are the farmers. You should have the final say. You should be the ones heard. The decision lies with you as to who should lead. We are not like other party-lists owned by a select few,” Cabatbat stated.

He further emphasized that their victory in the Supreme Court was not just a win for the party but for farmers across the nation.

“The Supreme Court win is a victory for the farmers—it is your victory.”

ia/mnm