MANILA — At the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, a venue known for mobilizations and protest actions, senatorial candidates Leody de Guzman and Atty. Luke Espiritu made their final pitch to voters before the 2025 midterm elections.

Partido Lakas ng Masa Chairman Sonny Melencio opened the program by rallying support for de Guzman and Espiritu.

He urged the audience to not vote for political dynasties and choose leaders who will put workers first.

De Guzman highlighted how their campaign was able to reach a lot of areas and garner support from several groups despite not having machinery.

The labor leader reiterated his promise to end political dynasties, which he says is the real problem of the country.

"Kaming dalawa ni Luke ay nanindigan na dapat ang tumbukin sa panahon ng eleksyon na ito ay ang puno't dulo ng problema. At yan ang ating gobyerno na pinamumugaran ng trapo at dynastiya," he said.

De Guzman called for a moment of silence to honor Filipino revolutionary icon Andres Bonifacio on the eve of his death anniversary.

Espiritu urged voters to join their cause to put an end political dynasties by voting for "progressive" candidates like them.

"Hindi kami magsasawa na tumakbo at hamunin ang mga dynastiya pagdating sa kapangyarihan. Hindi kami magsasawa. Kayo ba magsasawa na ipaglaban natin ang ating kapangyarihan?" he asked.

Liberal Party Executive Vice President and ML Party-list third nominee Erin Tañada backed the candidacy of de Guzman and Espiritu.

"Bagama't hindi natin mabibigyan ng solusyon ang lahat ng problema maski manalo sa eleksyon si Leody at Luke. Pero at least, masasabi po natin yung mga problema ay pwedeng mabigyan ng pagkakataon mapag-usapan sa Senado," he said.

"Kailangan po natin kumbinsihin yung hindi pa nakakarinig sa mensahe ni Leody at Luke," Tañada added.

The miting de avance was capped off by fireworks and musical performances.

P20/KILO RICE ‘ELECTION GIMMICK’

During the program, De Guzman and Espiritu also said they believe the P20/kilo rice program of the government is just for show during the election season.

The program's rollout was postponed a day after it was announced by the Department of Agriculture on May 1 to give way to the ban of distribution of government aid during the election period.

"Malinaw naman yun. Election gimmick lang yun. Hindi pwedeng ma-sustain yun. Papatayin nila yung mga magsasaka dahil hindi naman nila napapaunlad pa yung ating sektor ng sakahan," De Guzman said.

"Unless paunlaran yung sektor ng sakahan, maglagay ng maraming pondo diyan... yun saka magagawa yung murang presyo ng bigas na kikita yung magsasaka," he added.

De Guzman believes the program will not even reach Luzon and Mindanao.

"Kalokohan yan. Gimmick lang yan ni Marcos para patunayan na kaya niya. Pero hindi yan sustainable. Tingnan niyo, pagkatapos o bago matapos ang taong ito titigil yung bigas na yan na P20. Hindi yan darating sa Mindanao at Luzon," he said.

Espiritu echoed the same sentiment, reiterating the need to solve the real issues.

"Yan ang tinatawag na tokenism. Hindi naman binago ni Marcos ang pinaka-fundamental na problema kung bakit mataas presyo ng bigas," he said.

"Pinapabayaan parin ang agrikultura, pinapabayan parin ang magsasaka, inaagawan parin ng lupa, wala paring tunay na reporma at walang suporta sa magsasaka," the lawyer added.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) recommended the suspension of the program amid fears it will be used for politicking.

DA said the program will resume on May 13, after the elections.