Unsolicited advice to ‘CheKiBam’

Human rights lawyer and potential senatorial candidate Chel Diokno and I are members of the same organization, FLAG, or the Free Legal Assistance Group. In fact, Dean Chel, as we call him due to his role as founding dean of the College of Law at De La Salle, is FLAG’s national chairman.

FLAG celebrates its 50th anniversary this October, having been founded in 1974 at the height of martial law by Dean Chel’s father, Jose W. Diokno, and another distinguished statesman from the Senate of old, Lorenzo Tañada.

It goes without saying that Dean Chel Diokno and I are on the same political wavelength, and I’m hoping that a man of his intellectual caliber and ideological rigor will make it to the Senate next year. However, if he proceeds with his planned candidacy for the 2025 Senate election, it would be his third attempt and, to be candid, this attempt could be as challenging as the first two.

Diokno, along with former senators Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, were in Cebu last Saturday to start building their campaign in this vote-rich province. The campaign, called “CheKiBam” --a catchy combination of the names of the three politicians-- was also joined by Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is currently perceived as popular across political spectrums.

All three probable candidates come from defeats in their previous election cycles. In this age of populism, not only Diokno but also former senators Pangilinan and Aquino will face uphill battles. While I am no political expert, I habitually make time for small talk with people because these interactions offer valuable insights into the political views of people on the ground.

One thing I’ve learned in this age of populism is that authenticity takes precedence over polished political rhetoric. I’ve seen Diokno up close and I can attest to his sincerity and humble ways. He is also popular with the youth, who resonate with his image as a cool elder. However, this authenticity still needs to reach a broader segment of the voting populace.

The three politicians already have a strong base among the Pink movement, or whatever is left of it from the 2022 phenomenon that saw the biggest crowds in political rallies for Leni Robredo. They can reactivate that movement to constitute their reliable base, but they must find a way to appeal to other segments of the population, especially those who voted for Duterte candidates in the 2019 elections and the Marcos-Duterte team in the 2022 elections.

I’m sure they would have no problem presenting their core values and programs to address current pressing issues like economic inequality, corruption, and the need for more social services. However, if their messaging or narrative fails to resonate across different segments of the populace, they risk repeating the outcomes of 2019 and 2022.

One major way to address their disconnect with people who voted for populist candidates in the past is to engage directly with these voters. They must be willing to take the risk of not just talking to (not talking over) these segments, but also convincing them of the fresh advantages they can offer, rather than just why Duterte and Marcos-allied candidates were and are poor choices.

They should spend more time with voters who are wary of them, yet are also becoming aware of the false promises of populism. It's important to understand these voters' concerns and address them effectively. They need to prioritize listening over talking a lot.