Q&A
Aquino unveils Cabinet, forms truth commission
INCOMING President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III bared on Tuesday the members of his Cabinet, but said he will be concurrent secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government while negotiations with three candidates are ongoing.
He also told a press conference he has formed a “truth commission” to gather evidence of wrongdoing by the nine-year administration of outgoing President Gloria. The commission will be headed by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide.
Following is the transcript of Aquino’s press conference:
Cabinet: Sorry na-delay na-traffic sa EDSA I had to wait for Cabinet to be present. I promised you we will formalize everybody’s nomination.
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Aquino: Issues involving Arroyo need closure (Q&A)
By BOOMA CRUZ
Courtesy of PROBE PROFILES
ON election eve, media tore down the windows of Precinct 175-A of Sitio Alto, Barangay Central Azucarera de Tarlac Elementary School. The two adjacent giant square casements with horizontal rails blocked the perfect view of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machine stationed at the voting center. Leading presidential aspirant, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, was to cast his ballot at Precinct 175-A, a small classroom that was the center of everybody’s attention.
As early as May 7, television network technicians trooped to the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Elementary School to set up and prepare for May 10 live telecasts. Victory was up in the air. With a commanding 22-point lead in respectable surveys on election week, Aquino was considered by media the likely 15th president of the republic.
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Gordon: ‘Pangalan ko Dick pero hindi ako –tator’
Courtesy of PROBE PROFILES
JOINING the already crowded presidential derby at the last minute, Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon is banking on his image as an action man to win votes and implement genuine changes in 2010.
The former mayor of Olongapo City, founding chair and administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and chair of the Philippine National Red Cross, who is known to rule with an iron fist, boasts of his long and impressive track record as a local chief executive prior to being a legislator. But a nephew, who is also running for president, has warned about a Dick Gordon presidency.
In a one-on-one interview with Probe Profiles’ host Cheche Lazaro, Gordon discusses his leadership principles and explains his perceived dictatorial tendencies. He outlines his vision and plans for the country in the following interview:
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JC de los Reyes: ‘I did not choose to be a Gordon’ (Q&A)
Courtesy of PROBE PROFILES
HEIR to a political dynasty that introduced him to politics, Olongapo City Councilor John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes is defying tradition. He will be 40 years old in February and is dead-set in running for president in 2010 against political giants that will most likely include his uncle, Sen. Richard Gordon.
The son of Gordon’s sister Barbara, De los Reyes has neither money nor machinery. He is joining the political fray armed only with faith and conscience.
The standard-bearer of Ang Kapatiran, a political party espousing staunchly Catholic views, De los Reyes talks about his party’s “principle-based politics” in the following interview with Cheche Lazaro for Probe Profiles:
Perlas: ‘People call me a practical visionary’ (Q&A)
Courtesy of PROBE PROFILES
WITHOUT funds and a much-needed machinery, activist-environmentalist Nicanor “Nicky” Perlas thinks he has a good chance of capturing the presidency the nontraditional way and actually turn things around for the country.
By Perlas’s own account, a government official, who learned about his intention to run for president, told him, “You are qualified but you’re out of your mind to think that you can even win.”
Perlas is banking on his track record of engaging governments and influencing policies from outside the corridors of power to help create his vision of a “new Philippines”—prosperous, peaceful and democratic.
Is the “practical visionary” practical—realistic—in his quest for Malacanang?
Probe Profiles’ host Cheche Lazaro talks to Perlas to examine the alternative candidate’s plans and vision for the country. Below is a transcript of their face-to-face discussion.
Noynoy: ‘No point in competing with my parents’ (Q&A)
Courtesy of PROBE PROFILES
SEN. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s strength—the legacy of his parents—is also his weakness. Blessed with sudden popularity reflected in the presidential surveys, he has become the favorite punching bag of every presidential wannabe.
Aquino enjoys a 60 percent rating in the most recent nationwide survey of the Social Weather Stations on presidential aspirants. A previous SWS survey in Luzon showed half the respondents favoring him.
Thrust into the presidential race without the usual preparation of a serious contender, the only son of martyred senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and revered former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino has been the object of political innuendoes from rivals who question his readiness to be president. Does the younger Aquino have what it takes to duplicate, if not surpass, the track record and greatness of his parents?
Aquino was subjected to a series of questions about his personal background and achievements during his more than 11 years in Congress—nine years as representative of Tarlac and more than two years as senator. The following is a transcript of a one-on-one interview of Aquino, the Liberal Party standard-bearer, by Probe Profiles’ host Cheche Lazaro.
Escudero: ‘No angels, saints in politics’ (Q&A)
Courtesy of PROBE PROFILES
SEN. Francis “Chiz” Escudero wants to be the country’s youngest president. He seemed ready to join the 2010 presidential derby, but party politics got in the way and the much-anticipated declaration turned out to be an announcement of a split with his party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
Escudero has asked his supporters for more time to mull over his political options.
The glib, 40-year-old senator surprised everyone with his move, which he and his supporters described as his first test of character.
In a one-on-one interview with Probe Profiles host Cheche Lazaro, Escudero reveals more about himself as talks about his personal and professional background, his approach to politics and governance, and his vision of how and where he wants to lead the country. The following is the transcript of the Escudero interview. (For a behind-the-scenes look, visit http://probeprofiles.multiply.com)
Teodoro: ‘We need a healing presidency’ (Q&A)
Courtesy of PROBE PROFILES
THE expected standard-bearer of the administration party, Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro is in an unenviable position. He is almost at the bottom of the current presidential survey ladder and constantly on the defensive because of the disastrous disaster response of his National Disaster Coordinating Council at the height of tropical storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng.”
Identified with an unpopular Chief Executive, Teodoro’s bid is being challenged from within the administration. Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, a colleague in the Cabinet, is reportedly also poised to run for president. Another, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, has openly expressed close ties with the family of presidential wannabe, Sen. Benigno Aquino III. With eight months to go before the 2010 elections, is Teodoro still the viable candidate for the ruling party?
In a one-on-one interview with Probe Profiles, Teodoro answers the tough questions and explains why he wants to be president. He bares his personal background as well as professional track record, and shares his views on politics and governance that shape his brand of leadership.
The following is a transcript of the Teodoro interview by Profiles’ host Cheche Lazaro:
Villar: ‘Filipinos love traditional (politicians)’ (Q&A)
Courtesy of PROBE PROFILES
THE Philippines’ richest senator, billionaire Manuel “ Manny” Villar, is giving his all to capture the presidency in 2010. His infomercials and television ads invade the airwaves during prime time, outnumbering advertisements with similar themes three to one. According to Nielsen Media Research, the Villar media campaign from October 2008 to May 2009 cost almost P325 million, making the senator Mr. Biggest Spender among the presidential wannabes.
In an interview last year, Villar was quoted as saying that only candidates with deep pockets have a real fighting chance in 2010. The surveys on presidentiables show where he is coming from. Despite accusations of corruption and an investigation by his own peers on his alleged schemes to defraud the government, the former Senate president enjoys high popularity ratings.
In a recent interview with Probe Profiles, Villar shares his rags to riches life story, his thoughts about Philippine politics, his positions on controversial issues, his answers to allegations against him, and his plans for the country if elected president.
The following is the transcript of the no-holds-barred talk between Profiles host Cheche Lazaro and Villar.
Korina Sanchez up close (Q&A)
Courtesy of PROBE PROFILES
ALL eyes were on broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez when her fiancé, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, made the surprise announcement that he was withdrawing from the 2010 presidential derby in favor of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
Sanchez was among those first consulted by Roxas about the sudden change of political plans. She was reportedly behind the crafting of the senator’s “concession” speech at the Club Filipino on Sept. 1.
Interviewed over the radio the following day about her fiancé’s decision, Sanchez poured her heart out and lashed out at the critics of Roxas. Sanchez has been on a leave of absence from her newscasting job at the network giant ABS-CBN since May in preparation for her October wedding with Roxas and the long-planned presidential campaign of the senator.
The following is an interview by Probe Profiles with Sanchez on Sept. 7.