MANILA (UPDATE)—Newly-created partylist group Malasakit Movement, through its first nominee Pircelyn Celine Pialago, filed Wednesday its certificate of candidacy for the 2022 elections.

JUST IN: Ex-MMDA spokeperson Pircelyn “Celine” Pialago files candidacy for #Halalan2022 through her partylist Malasakit Movement.

The partylist will represent “barangay representatives, kagawads, barangay tanod frontliners & barangay health workers.” | via @jauhnetienne pic.twitter.com/nTFfnNGFAd

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) October 6, 2021

Pialago is running for representative of Malasakit Movement Party-list, which represents barangay representatives, kagawad, tanod, and health workers.

Aside from barangay workers, Pialago said she would also work for better benefits for medical workers.

"Kami po ay buong kababaang loob na tumutugon sa hamon para maging boses ng mga social workers, mga barangayan, solo parents, OFWs at kanilang pamilya dito sa Pilipinas," she told reporters.

(We and our humility will respond to the challenge to become the voice of social workers, barangay representatives, solo parents, OFWs and their families here in the Philippines.)

“Ang Makabayan bloc kailangan muna makiisa sa layunin ng gobyerno.”

House seat aspirant Celine Pialago, one of NTF-ELCAC’s spox, said this when asked if she can work w/ the progressive bloc if elected as lawmaker.

Makabayan bloc has been one of NTF-ELCAC’s main targets. pic.twitter.com/neMViTAJ8W

— J.E. Villaruel (@jauhnetienne) October 6, 2021

Asked if she could work with progressive bloc Makabayan if elected as lawmaker, she said, "Kailangan po ang Makabayan bloc ay makiisa muna sa layunin ng gobyerno."

(Makabayan has to join together with the purpose of the government.)

"I-orient po ang mga kabataan na huwag pong maging marahas, huwag din po maging against sa government. Pero 'yung mga activist po na mga movement nila that's normal, parte po 'yan ng boses ng ating bansa," she added.

(The youth must be taught not to be violent and go against the government. But those activist movement is normal and part of the voices of our country.)

Before she was appointed MMDA spokesperson, Pialago served as the media relations officer of the Department of the Interior and Local Government under Secretary Mike Sueno.

She also served as a spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, which red-tagged several personalities.

• Pialago leaves MMDA, announces candidacy for party-list representation

Last year, Pialago received flak after she decried local media and netizens’ show of sympathy towards activist Reina Mae Nasino, who had lost her 3-month-old daughter baby River to pneumonia, likening it to an afternoon drama series.

• 'Pang drama serye sa hapon': MMDA spox hits sympathizers of jailed activist

She has since apologized for her tweet.

• Who was Celine Pialago before she took on her MMDA post?
• 'Paninirang puri': MMDA spokesman seeks NBI help to go after bashers

RELATED VIDEO

Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv

—With reports from Jauhn Etienne Villaruel and Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News