- Represented families and victims of alleged extra-judicial killings in three murder and frustrated murder cases against Rep. Melecio Yap, Jr. of the 1st District of Negros Occidental
- Represented Save Waters in Indang Movement and secured the first permanent writ of kalikasan issued by the Court of Appeals, ordering water company PTK2 H2O to stop extracting water from four rivers in Cavite and construction of a dam and water delivery pipes in the town of Indang
- Assisted the legal team that questioned the warnings issued by the Department of Justice and the National Telecommunications Commission to broadcast media against airing the controversial “Hello, Garci” tapes
SENATORIAL CANDIDATE
◯
26. ESPIRITU, LUKE
PARTIDO LAKAS NG MASA
Luke Espiritu, 47, is a lawyer, labor organizer and activist for human rights, climate justice and gender equality. He is the former national president, spokesperson and current labor organizer of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino as well as the former national president of the Solidarity of Unions in the Philippines for Empowerment and Reforms Federation.
As a lawyer, Espiritu specialized in public interest cases, including plunder cases against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, cases representing rebel soldiers charged with mutiny against the Arroyo Administration, a Supreme Court petition to protect freedom of speech as well as cases against former First Lady Imelda Marcos, wife to the late ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos, involving her family's ill-gotten wealth.
Espiritu also handled cases to obtain a Writ of Kalikasan to stop the privatization of water resources in Indang, Cavite and represented clients from the labor and urban poor sectors free of charge. He also served as legal counsel and Board of Trustee member for the Freedom from Debt Coalition to oppose high electricity rates.
Espiritu is running his first Senate race as a socialist and anti-capitalist candidate. He is campaigning on establishing a national minimum wage of at least P750 per day, the abolition of regional wage boards, using price control to curb rising prices, halting the collection of excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law and value-added tax and removal of the 12% value-added tax on fuel. He is also calling for the outright repeal of the TRAIN Law, expanded VAT and the oil deregulation law.
He also supports prohibiting contractualization or ending the endo system, ensuring a living wage for all workers, decriminalizing abortion, passing the SOGIE Equality Bill and a wealth tax, allowing same-sex marriage and repealing the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. He opposes the death penalty, lowering the corporate income tax and adopting a federalist system of government.
Platform and Policy
The candidate's top priorities if elected to office, tracked against previous promises and accomplishments, if any
Select a policy profile below to view more details
Labor
Worker's pay and welfare
Economic reforms
Social issues and rights
Related Policy Proposal:
- Pass a security of tenure law that would abolish all manpower agencies
- Stronger protection of unionism, to bolster rights to organize, establish unions, and enter into collective bargaining agreements
- Public employment guarantee, wherein government creates jobs for all
Previous Platform:
Track Record / Accomplishment; Date:
- As a labor leader, fought and advocated for security of tenure since at least 2016
- BMP and Espiritu in December 2020 rejected a bill passed by the House, or the proposed Security of Tenure Act, as a “rushed” and a watered-down version of Senate Bill No. 1826, that was vetoed by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019
- As a union leader, has advocated for labor organizing since at least 2012
Deviation from Previous Platform:
Related Policy Proposal:
- National living wage of at least P750 per day
- Abolish Regional Wage Boards, to equalize provincial pay rates with that in the National Capital Region
Previous Platform:
Track Record / Accomplishment; Date:
Deviation from Previous Platform:
Related Policy Proposal:
- Imposition of wealth tax, or tax on billionaires to fund education, healthcare, housing services
- Repeal of the Rice Tariffication Law and implementation of complete agrarian reform, to ensure supply of inexpensive rice and guarantee sufficient pay for farmers
- Repeal of the TRAIN Law and E-VAT and stop unjust taxes on poor but retain tax exemptions for low-income earners and expand tax exemptions to reward unpaid care work, by replacing the indirect taxation under the TRAIN Law with the proposed tax on wealth
Previous Platform:
Track Record / Accomplishment; Date:
Deviation from Previous Platform:
Related Policy Proposal:
- Repeal the Anti-Terrorism Act, to protect and defend the human rights of all
- Pass the SOGIE Equality bill, to guarantee human rights of all, no matter their gender or sexual orientation
- Fossil-fuel phaseout with just transition, to address the climate crisis, cheaper electricity, and prevent calamities
Previous Platform:
Track Record / Accomplishment; Date:
- Represented families and victims of alleged extra-judicial killings in three murder and frustrated murder cases against Rep. Melecio Yap, Jr. of the 1st District of Negros Occidental
- Represented Save Waters in Indang Movement and secured the first permanent writ of kalikasan issued by the Court of Appeals, ordering water company PTK2 H2O to stop extracting water from four rivers in Cavite and construction of a dam and water delivery pipes in the town of Indang
Deviation from Previous Platform:
Major Accomplishments
The candidate's top five accomplishments and contributions for the last 15 years or so
Private Sector
Espiritu began his legal career at the Chavez Miranda Aseoche Law Offices handling public interest cases such as the plunder cases against President Arroyo.
He then became a private law practitioner, successfully obtaining a Writ of Kalikasan to stop the privatization of water resources in Indang, Cavite and representing clients from the labor and urban poor sectors free of charge, among other high-profile cases.
He became legal counsel of the Freedom from Debt Coalition in its campaign against privatization of electricity and to oppose high electricity rates.
Espiritu was a member of Partido Lakas ng Masa’s national executive council from 2008 to 2013. He also lectured on the socialist alternative and labor rights, acted as spokesperson in public protests and demonstrations on key issues like contractualization, wage, high prices and taxation, and participated in the group’s mass movement building initiatives.
He joined and climbed the ranks of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, a socialist labor center, eventually becoming its national president.
Espiritu also became the president of the labor federation Solidarity of Unions in the Philippines for Empowerment and Reforms. According to Laban ng Masa, a nationwide coalition of socialist and progressive organizations and individuals, Espiritu led collective action that secured full regularization for contractuals in APT Manufacturing, Fishta Seafood, and Herco Trading. He also helped organize 10 labor strikes between 2018 and 2019, during a surge in collective action among contractual workers.
Public intrest lawyer
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Position/Date
Status
- The cases were dismissed by the San Carlos City Regional Trial Court in February 2017
- The Court of Appeals granted the petition in June 2014
- In February 2098, the Supreme Court declared such warnings “prior restraint” on speech based on its content and that there was a failure by the respondents to pass the clear and present danger test
Labor leader
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From 2018 to 2021, became national president of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, after previously serving as labor organizer and spokesperson
From 2015 to 2020, was the national president of the labor federation Solidarity of Unions in the Philippines for Empowerment and Reforms
From 2015 to 2020, was the national president of the labor federation Solidarity of Unions in the Philippines for Empowerment and Reforms
Position/Date
Status
Resource person on labor movements
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Has lectured on socialism and labor rights in national and in international conferences in Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Japan, among other countries
Position/Date
Status
Writer
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Has written and been published:
- “The Austrian Medical Waste Project in the Philippines”, How to Challenge Illegitimate Debt: Theory and Legal Case Studies, Aktion Finanz Schweiz, Basel, Switzerland, November 2009
- “Demystifying Contractualization: Why Manpower Agencies are Useless” (published in German), Südostasien, March 8 and 16, 2019
Position/Date
Status
Actions and/or Proceedings
Actions and/or proceedings pending against or resolved in courts or tribunals involving the candidate, based on publicly available information
There is no publicly available information on this matter at this time. Requested information from the candidate was not provided.
Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth
Also known as SALN, this document is a declaration of one's personal finances. Philippine Law requires the SALN to be submitted by all public officials and employees to the Ombudsman. Public officials and employees may opt to voluntarily disclose their SALN to the public.
Since he has not held an official government position, Espiritu is not required to disclose his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth per the latest rules set by the Civil Service Commission.
Campaign Details
Key details about the candidate's campaign
Campaign Manager:
Alliances and Endorsements:
Included in the Senate slate of the Leody de Guzman-Walden Bello tandem
Party History:
Partido Lakas ng Masa
2021-present
Major Donors
Candidate's major donors and campaign funding sources
There is no publicly available information on this matter at this time. Requested information from the candidate was not provided.
Major Advocacies
The candidate's top advocacies in the last 15 years or so
Climate justice
Human rights
Labor rights
Socialism
Climate justice
As a senatorial candidate for 2030, supports the socialist-labor-green-progressive platform of Partido Laban ng Masa, which seeks to address the issues of the working people, the environmentalists, women, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized sectors
As a senatorial candidate for 2030, has called for CoalFree2030, or the phase out of fossil fuels and replacement by 100% renewable energy sources, through a just transition that supports and finds alternative jobs for workers and communities that currently depend on fossil fuel energy for livelihood by:
As a senatorial candidate for 2030, has called for CoalFree2030, or the phase out of fossil fuels and replacement by 100% renewable energy sources, through a just transition that supports and finds alternative jobs for workers and communities that currently depend on fossil fuel energy for livelihood by:
- penalizing large GHG emitters (needing amendments in the Clean Air Act);
- government providing ample subsidy and support for workers
Human rights
As a lawyer, has represented families and victims of human rights violations, such as petitions to defend freedom of speech and of the press and EJK cases
Labor rights
Has been a labor organizer and labor group leader since at least 2014 to present
Socialism
Supports socialist beliefs and policies and opposed capitalist policies
From 2008 to 2013, was a member of the National Executive Council of Partido Lakas ng Masa, a democratic socialist political party
Running under the Senate slate of Partido Laban ng Masa in 2022
From 2008 to 2013, was a member of the National Executive Council of Partido Lakas ng Masa, a democratic socialist political party
Running under the Senate slate of Partido Laban ng Masa in 2022
Personal Details
Basic information on the candidate's family, background and work experience
Name to appear on the ballot: ESPIRITU, LUKE
Full Name: Renecio “Luke” Santos Espiritu, Jr.
Birthdate: Oct. 18, 1974 (47 years old as of election day)
Birthplace: Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
Residence: Plainview, Mandaluyong
Religion:
Languages Spoken: Filipino, English, Bisaya
Parents:
Siblings:
Six siblings
Marital Status:
Children:
Education:
Juris Doctor, Ateneo de Manila School of Law, 2002
AB Communication, Ateneo De Manila University, 1997
Work Experience:
Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino:
- National president, 2018-2021
- Spokesperson, 2015-2018
- Labor organizer, 2014-present
National president, Solidarity of Unions in the Philippines for Empowerment and Reforms, 2015-2020
Member, National Executive Council, Partido Lakas ng Masa, 2008-2013
Board of Trustees member and legal counsel, Freedom from Debt Coalition, 2010-2013
Private legal practitioner, 2008-present
Chavez Miranda Aseoche Law Offices:
- Senior Associate, 2006-2008
- Associate, 2004-2006
Glossary
| TERM |
DEFINITION
|
|---|---|
| Writ of Kalikasan | A legal remedy available to any person who feels that their constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology has been violated or could be violated by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or private individual or entity. |
| LGBTQ+ | Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, or others |
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