Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (), commonly known as the PBA Partylist, is a party-list organization in the House of Representatives of the Philippines. It represents the interests of Filipino sportspeople, advocating for policies and programs that support athletes and promote sports development nationwide.
History The PBA Partylist first participated in the 2007 elections but failed to secure a seat in Congress.
In the 2010 elections, the organization gained significant attention when it was endorsed by renowned professional boxer and national icon Manny Pacquiao, who served as its chairman at the time. During the campaign, PBA Partylist spent , the highest among all party-list groups, though still within the legal spending limit of per registered voter (or ). The group successfully won a seat in the 15th Congress. During this term, PBA Partylist filed a bill proposing the creation of a **Department of Sports**, but the proposal lapsed due to time constraints.
The organization lost its representation in Congress after failing to secure a seat in the 2013 elections. However, it regained representation in the 17th Congress after winning two seats in the 2016 elections.
Controversies In February 2024, the PBA Partylist faced controversy after its members were accused of engaging in bribery in Davao City during their campaign for Constitutional reform in the Philippines through the People's Initiative. Witnesses claimed that the group used deceptive tactics to gather signatures for the initiative, leading to public outcry and calls for investigation.
Leadership The PBA Partylist is currently led by: Chairman: Jericho Nograles President: Mark Aeron Sambar Leader: Migs Nograles
Electoral performance The PBA Partylist has had fluctuating success in elections: 2007: Failed to win a seat. 2010: Won 1 seat in the 15th Congress. 2013: Lost representation in the 16th Congress. 2016: Regained representation, winning 2 seats in the 17th Congress. 2019 and 2022: Maintained representation in the 18th and 19th Congresses.
Advocacy and policies The PBA Partylist focuses on promoting the welfare of Filipino athletes and advancing sports development. Key initiatives include: Advocating for the creation of a Department of Sports to centralize sports-related policies and programs. Pushing for increased funding and support for national athletes. Promoting grassroots sports programs to nurture young talent.
Electoral results Election Votes % Secured Seats Party-List Seats Congress 1st Representative 2nd Representative 3rd Representative 2007 72,395 0.45% 53 14th Congress2007–2010 colspan="3" 2010 258,869 0.86% 57 15th Congress2010–2013 Mark Aeron Sambar 2013 212,298 0.77% 59 16th Congress2013–2016 colspan="3" 2016 780,309 2.41% 59 17th Congress2016–2019 Mark Aeron Sambar Jericho Nograles 2019 326,258 1.17% 61 18th Congress2019–2022 Jericho Nograles 2022 294,619 0.80% 63 19th Congress2022–2025 Migs Nograles 2025 35,078 0.08% 63 20th Congress2025–2028 colspan="3" Note: For party-list representation in the House of Representatives of the Philippines, a party can win a maximum of three seats.
See also Party-list representation in the House of Representatives of the Philippines Manny Pacquiao Jericho Nograles Migs Nograles
References