(UPDATES) GABRIELA Women's Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas announced she would run for senator in the 2025 midterm elections to push for more comprehensive legislation aimed at protecting women and children.
"It's time for us to fight for our own voices and for real change in the Senate.... Our current leaders only have their own interests to protect, and they also fight each other," Brosas said during her nomination event in Quezon City.
Brosas believes that her candidacy as part of the Makabayan bloc's Senate slate will be driven by her supporters, who are mainly women from civil organizations, marginalized sectors, youth and even the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community.
Brosas was nominated by a committee of 100 women that represented various sectors and professions, as well as a coalition of women leaders and various women's groups across the country.
She said the "unprecedented" crisis that has burdened women, including severe oppression, discrimination and state-sponsored violence, gave her the determination to serve the oppressed and those in need.
"The first thing that gave us the go signal to run for the Senate are women's issues. It is not enough that most of the issues on women are just being discussed at the [House of Representatives]," Brosas said.
Women rights groups and LGBTQIA organizations endorse Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas for the Senate in the 2025 elections during a press conference in Quezon City on July 16, 2024. Brosas said that with the help of the "Committee of 100 Women," they would strive to enter the Senate to promote and defend the rights of every woman in the country. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Women rights groups and LGBTQIA organizations endorse Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas for the Senate in the 2025 elections during a press conference in Quezon City on July 16, 2024. Brosas said that with the help of the "Committee of 100 Women," they would strive to enter the Senate to promote and defend the rights of every woman in the country. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Women rights groups and LGBTQIA organizations endorse Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas for the Senate in the 2025 elections during a press conference in Quezon City on July 16, 2024. Brosas said that with the help of the "Committee of 100 Women," they would strive to enter the Senate to promote and defend the rights of every woman in the country. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Women rights groups and LGBTQIA organizations endorse Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas for the Senate in the 2025 elections during a press conference in Quezon City on July 16, 2024. Brosas said that with the help of the "Committee of 100 Women," they would strive to enter the Senate to promote and defend the rights of every woman in the country. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Women rights groups and LGBTQIA organizations endorse Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas for the Senate in the 2025 elections during a press conference in Quezon City on July 16, 2024. Brosas said that with the help of the "Committee of 100 Women," they would strive to enter the Senate to promote and defend the rights of every woman in the country. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Women rights groups and LGBTQIA organizations endorse Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas for the Senate in the 2025 elections during a press conference in Quezon City on July 16, 2024. Brosas said that with the help of the "Committee of 100 Women," they would strive to enter the Senate to promote and defend the rights of every woman in the country. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN Women rights groups and LGBTQIA organizations endorse Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas for the Senate in the 2025 elections during a press conference in Quezon City on July 16, 2024. Brosas said that with the help of the "Committee of 100 Women," they would strive to enter the Senate to promote and defend the rights of every woman in the country. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
Brosas is the author of several measures involving women and children, including the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, Safe Spaces Law, Increasing the Age for Statutory Rape and Expanded Solo Parent Welfare Act.
Before her congressional stint, Brosas led the formation of the Anti-Child Pornography Alliance, which led to the signing of the Anti-Child Pornography Law. She was also one of the conveners and spokesmen for the Save Nena campaign to end child sexual abuse and prostitution.
Former Gabriela representative Emmy de Jesus said there should be more "alternative voices" in the Senate, which only Brosas and the entire Makabayan Senate slate can provide to the public.
"The run of the Makabayan bloc in the Senate is a good launch point for our agenda.... Our bottom line is that, to whom should we serve?" de Jesus told The Manila Times in an interview.
Brosas is the second member of the Makabayan bloc to announce her intention to run for the Senate after ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro.
The Makabayan bloc said in a previous press conference that they aim to field a full Senate slate of 12 candidates from different sectors.