Speaker Martin Romualdez led the House of Representatives in welcoming Percival Cendaña of the Akbayan Citizens Action Party as its newest member.
Romualdez administered the oath of office to Cendaña just before the House adjourned for a month-long break, following the approval of the proposed P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025.
Cendaña’s swearing-in occurred one day after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed Akbayan as a winner in the 2022 party-list race, awarding the party a seat in the House of Representatives.
The new legislator was accompanied by family members and former colleagues, including former Rep. Loreta “Etta” Rosales, the former chairperson of Akbayan and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
He received a warm welcome from his fellow lawmakers.
“Taos-pusong pasasalamat.”
“Taos-pusong pasasalamat. Tuloy-tuloy ang laban para sa malaya, pantay at maginhawang lipunan,” Cendaña said.
The Comelec’s proclamation indicated that Akbayan received the necessary votes under the party-list system, allowing Cendaña to assume his position in Congress.
He will serve in the House of Representatives until June 30, 2025.
As stipulated in Section 7, Article 6 of the Philippine Constitution, he will serve in the House of Representatives until June 30, 2025.
Cendaña previously served as a Commissioner of the National Youth Commission from 2011 to 2016 and was president of Babaylanes, Inc., a prominent NGO at the University of the Philippines.
His leadership experience also includes serving as the Student Council chairperson at UP Diliman in 1997 and as chief of staff for former Akbayan Rep. Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao, who later became the governor of Dinagat Islands.
