MANILA — The Makabayan Coalition has added another Senate candidate to their 2025 slate: Ronnel Arambulo, a local fisherman from Laguna de Bay, who announced his candidacy Monday in Navotas City with the call, “Mangingisda naman sa Senado!”

Arambulo is the current vice chairman of the fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya).

“Malugod kong tinatanggap ang hamon ng Koalisyong Makabayan na maging bahagi ng kanilang senatorial slate para higit pang maisulong ang karapatan ng sektor ng mangingisda,” he said.

Arambulo, a Laguna de Bay fisherman, has been a local leader since 2008, advocating for the improvement of the rights and well-being of the nation’s poorest population. He has spearheaded grassroots initiatives to protect coastal towns and fishing grounds from privatization, conversion, and reclamation.

Arambulo claims that in order to solve issues that impact fishermen’s livelihoods—like the reclamation of Manila Bay, the destruction of the mussel farms in Navotas, the oil disaster, the conflict in the West Philippine Sea, and floods—a Senate seat from within the fishermen’s ranks is necessary.

“Sa West Philippine Sea, patuloy na hindi nakakapangisda ang mga Pilipino dahil sa umiigting na presensyang militar, hindi na lamang ng China, kundi pati ng mga karibal nitong bansa tulad ng Estados Unidos… Sa ibang mayor na pangisdaan tulad ng Manila Bay, kabi-kabila ang kalamidad na dinanas ng mga mangingisda bunga ng reklamasyon at iba pang anyo ng pribatisasyon,” he said.

Arambulo is the fifth contender in the Makabayan Coalition’s Senate slate, following the announcements of ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, Kilusang Mayo Uno’s Jerome Adonis, former anti-poverty czar Liza Maza, and BAYAN chairperson Teddy Casiño.

📷 Altermidya