FORMER senator Bam Aquino has taken over as chairman of the Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP), a political party founded in 2020 as a platform for youth empowerment in the national government.
Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, a member of the party, announced Aquino's new role in a statement.
"With great pride, we announce the appointment of former senator Bam Aquino as the party's chairman," Diokno said.
"This action is important along with strengthening and fortifying our ranks in preparation for the 2025 elections," he said, adding that the party is moving in the right direction with the former senator leading the way.
KANP said Aquino's legislative experience and achievements would help enhance the party's capacity to realize its vision of uplifting the lives of Filipinos through effective governance, education, justice, technology and digital media.
"Aquino's solid track record as a lawmaker, highlighted by 50 laws passed in his six-year tenure as a senator, has been instrumental in advancing the welfare of Filipinos, particularly in the fields of education and entrepreneurship," KANP said, pointing to his landmark bills such as the Free College Act and the Go Negosyo Act.
Aquino, 47, expressed his readiness to lead a young party composed of local officials from various regions of the country.
"It truly is a great honor to lead a party of experienced and dedicated members who share our vision and aspirations for the nation," said Aquino, the youngest senator in the 16th Congress when he was elected in 2013.
"As we enter another pivotal chapter in our country's political history, KANP will present itself as a viable alternative for Filipinos weary of traditional politics and politicians," he said.
KANP was founded by Kerby Salazar, a provincial board member in Cavite. In October 2021, the party welcomed Diokno as a party member and senatorial candidate for the 2022 general elections. The party also adopted presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo, vice presidential aspirant Sen. Francis Pangilinan, and senatorial aspirant Teddy Baguilat as their national candidates.
Aquino's former Liberal Party (LP) party mates, ex-senators Pangilinan and Leila de Lima, and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, all expressed confidence that he would bring the same fervor and dedication to KANP as he did during his tenure with LP.
"KANP is fortunate because Bam is known for his strong dedication, sincere service, and heart for the people when he was still with us in LP," Pangilinan said.
"I am confident that Senator Bam will turn KANP into a political party to reckon with and carry it to even greater heights amid an uncertain political landscape and other challenges," de Lima said.
"I wish Senator Aquino the best as he takes on this new challenge of leading some of the country's political young bloods who have emerged as the faces of good governance in Philippine politics," said Lagman.
The veteran lawmaker, who is the president of the Liberal Party, added that Aquino's move to KANP will help the LP expand its base with another cause-oriented party ally.
Meanwhile, KANP expressed its readiness to endorse like-minded potential candidates and form alliances with political parties with similar principles in preparation for the midterm elections 2025.
Aquino has said he will run for senator again next year, after losing his bid in 2019. He served as Robredo's campaign manager in her presidential bid in 2022. He is the cousin of the late former president Benigno Aquino III.