In a historic twist in the 2025 party-list elections, Akbayan Party-list, led by renowned human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, has surged to the top spot based on partial, unofficial results released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as of 4:48 p.m. Tuesday, with 97.29 percent of election returns transmitted.

Akbayan garnered 2,750,354 votes, or 6.71 percent of the total, outperforming other popular groups and defying expectations, even among its ranks.

“We were hoping for a lot of votes but we did not expect this number,” Diokno said in a television interview.

Diokno, a long-time human rights advocate and dean of the De La Salle University College of Law, assured the people that Akbayan is ready to bring its detailed platform to Congress.

“The only issue now is which one we’ll prioritize,” he said in Filipino.

After Akbayan came Duterte Youth, whose surprising performance catapulted it to second place with 2,300,538 votes (5.61 percent).

The party-list, often controversial for its hardline stances and close ties to the former administration, will likewise have representation in the incoming 20th Congress.

A victory of courage and conviction

In a statement, Diokno paid tribute to the movement behind their success.

“This victory comes from your trust, our shared stand, and our teamwork for a fair and compassionate society,” he said.

He thanked the volunteers, supporters, and allies such as Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan, and former Vice President Leni Robredo.

Diokno also cited ML Party-list’s top nominee, Leila de Lima, whose return to public life marks a dramatic comeback after nearly seven years of unjust detention.

“For nearly seven years, I lived behind bars for reasons that had nothing to do with justice and everything to do with power,” De Lima said in her victory message.

“But now, because of your courage and commitment, that voice is returning to a space where it can help shape policy, demand accountability, and speak for those long excluded from the conversation,” she said.

De Lima’s ML Partylist garnered 541,066 votes (1.32 percent) to secure a seat in Congress.

A symbol of resilience and principled dissent, her win underscores a broader trend in this year’s elections: the resurgence of progressive and rights-oriented movements in a political environment long dominated by traditional power blocs.

What is the Party-list System?

The Party-list System Act (Republic Act 7491) provides a mechanism for proportional representation in the House of Representatives.

Through this system, 20 percent of seats in the lower house are reserved for national, regional, and sectoral parties representing marginalized and underrepresented sectors such as the youth, farmers, workers, women, indigenous peoples, and senior citizens.

Any registered party that garners at least two percent of the vote is entitled to one seat, with a maximum of three seats based on a proportional vote share.

While originally designed to empower the marginalized, the system has been criticized in recent years for being co-opted by traditional political families and interest groups.

This election, however, marked a shift back to its original spirit, with groups like Akbayan and ML championing reforms, human rights, and people-powered legislation.

New chapter for reform politics?

As Congress opens a new session, all eyes will be on how these winning partyl-ist groups will turn campaign rhetoric into policy.

For Diokno, it’s clear where they stand: “We will use this for the welfare of those in the margins, and to defend our sovereignty and democracy.”

Likewise, De Lima called for vigilance and continuity in the struggle: “The fight for justice and reform is long and complicated. It doesn’t end with one campaign. But this win — this hard-earned, against-the-odds win — proves that idealism can still break through.”

Top 20 Party-list Groups (partial results):

1. Akbayan–2,750,354 votes (6.71%); 2. Duterte Youth–2,300,538 (5.61%); 3. Tingog–1,788,230 (4.36%); 4. 4Ps–1,435,163 (3.50%); 5. ACT-CIS–1,222,285 (2.98%); 6. Ako Bicol–1,061,263 (2.59%); 7. Uswag Ilonggo–772,685 (1.88%); 8. Solid North Party–753,799 (1.84%); 9. Trabaho–647,635 (1.58%); 10. CIBAC–587,689 (1.43%); 11. PPP–570,232 (1.39%); 12. Senior Citizens–569,744 (1.39%);

13. Malasakit@Bayanihan–568,027 (1.39%); 14. ML (Makabayan Lingkod)–541,066 (1.32%); 15. FPJ Panday Bayanihan–526,866 (1.29%); 16. United Senior Citizens–526,623 (1.28%); 17. 4K–505,555 (1.23%); 18. Coop-NATCCO–503,689 (1.23%); 19. LPGMA–498,776 (1.22%); 20. Ako Bisaya–470,775 (1.15%).