Human Rights Lawyer Jose Manuel Tadeo “Chel” Diokno filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for the Senatorial Race in the 2022 elections, today, October 7, 2021.
In his speech, he said that if given a seat in the Senate, he will focus on making justice accessible for everyone. “Kung ako’y bibigyan ng pagkakataon na magsilbi bilang isang Senador, gagawin nating abot kamay ang hustisya,” he said.
“Sana samahan ninyo po ako patungo sa makatarungang Pilipinas. Isang bansa na maayos ang kalusugan. Isang bansa na maayos ang kabuhayan natin at sapat ang pagkain para sa pamilya. Pero alam niyo po bago mangyari iyan, dapat may kagat ang hustisya. Dapat may ngipin ang batas,” he added.
Chel Diokno obtained his Juris Doctors of Laws from Northern Illinois University and is the founding dean of the De La Salle University College of Law. He is the son of anti-Marcos icon Jose W. Diokno who fought the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. He has been giving free legal service for 30 years and is the Chair of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG).
This is the second time that Diokno will attempt to win a Senate seat after losing in the 2019 Senatorial race. He will run under the Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP) partylist.
Photo Credit: Twitter/cheldiokno