Editor’s note: The infographic on Mar Roxas has been updated to correct the information on the year he won the senatorial elections. The previous version bore 2014 instead of 2004.
We apologize for the mistake.
On May 13, Filipinos will cast their ballots to choose the country’s next set of lawmakers and local government officials. Among the more than 18,000 positions to be filled are 12 senators who will impact, if not determine, the course of the nation’s policies in the coming years.
In this series, VERA Files Fact Check compiled relevant information on this election’s Senate hopefuls to aid the public in making their decision.
From the Commission on Elections’ 62 candidates, we narrowed the list down to 40 based on the following criteria:
- Reelectionists;
- Members of or those backed by political parties; or
- Candidates that have made it at least once in the top 12 of pre-election surveys conducted by independent pollsters Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations.
The 40 candidates were grouped based on their Senate experience–those with and those without–then arranged alphabetically. Each profile contains the candidate’s legislative platform, government experience or field of expertise, issues and controversies faced, relatives in government and other interesting facts.
Also included are the pertinent fact checks of or related to the candidate as done by VERA Files Fact Check and its media and academic partners in the tsek.ph collaboration.
Part 6 of the series covers seven candidates–incumbent and former senators Jinggoy Estrada, Lito Lapid, Serge Osmeña, Koko Pimentel, Grace Poe, Mar Roxas, and Cynthia Villar.
Here are some facts you need to know:
Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, former Senator
Manuel “Lito” Lapid, former Senator, Actor
Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III
Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel
Grace Poe
Manuel “Mar” Roxas
Cynthia Villar
Sources:
Jinggoy Estrada
Campaign Team of Jinggoy Estrada, Curriculum Vitae and Profile
Commission on Elections, Jinggoy Estrada Certificate of Candidacy
Jinggoy Estrada Official Facebook Page, Jinggoy Estrada
Senate of the Philippines, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
Laws
Senate of the Philippines, Republic Act 10361: Domestic Workers Act
Senate of the Philippines, https://www.facebook.com/jinggoyestrada/
Senate of the Philippines, Republic Act 10691: Strengthened Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Act
Senate of the Philippines, Republic Act 10151: An Act Allowing the Employment of Night Workers
Senate of the Philippines, Republic Act 10917: An Act Strengthening the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES)
Pork Barrel Scam
Verafiles.org,
Inquirer.net, Jinggoy seeks dismissal of P183-M plunder case, April 5, 2019
Rappler, Jinggoy Estrada asks court for outright dismissal of plunder case, Feb. 28, 2019
CNN Philippines, Jinggoy Estrada out on bail after 3 years in detention, Sept. 16, 2017
Business Mirror, SC upholds finding to indict Jinggoy for plunder, graft for PDAF misuse, July 31, 2018
ABS-CBN News, TIMELINE: Jinggoy Estrada’s pork barrel scam case, Sept. 15, 2017
Philstar, Ombudsman blocks Jinggoy Estrada’s bid to dismiss plunder case, March 5, 2019
Manuel “Lito” Lapid
Lito Lapid campaign team, Profile
senate.gov.ph, Senator Manuel “Lito” Mercado Lapid
inquirer.net, Lito Lapid vows to champion education in Senate comeback, Feb. 20, 2019
ABS-CBN News, Lito Lapid seeks Senate return, Oct. 15, 2018
SunStar Pampanga, Sangil: Lapid, Ang Probinsyano, Oct. 22, 2018
rappler.com, ‘Senate misfit’ Lito Lapid to run for Pampanga mayor, May 12, 2015
philstar.com, Lapid keen on running for Angeles mayor, Oct. 3, 2003
The Manila Times, Trivia on Lapid, the graduate, Jan. 9, 2016
senate.gov.ph, List of Previous Senators
rappler.com, Lito Lapid files his COC, Oct. 14, 2018
Laws
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bills 2361 and 2301
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bills 2046 and 1821
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bills 3365 and 956
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 2796
Debates
- inquirer.net, Lapid shuns debate with rivals: Di ako nakikipag contest sa pagalingan, Feb. 20, 2019
- ABS-CBN News, ‘Sila naman magaling’: Lapid turns down rivals’ debate challenge, Feb. 20, 2019
- rappler.com, Lito Lapid tells public: Focus on my experience, not on my education, Feb. 27, 2019
- GMA News Online, Poe, Lapid say they will not take part in public debates, Feb. 27, 2019
- Manila Bulletin, Poe opts for public dialogue over debate, Feb. 27, 2019
Fertilizer scam
- ABS-CBN News, Lito Lapid wins graft case due to Ombudsman’s delay, Oct. 4, 2019
- CNN Philippines, Sandiganbayan dismisses graft case against Lito Lapid, Oct. 5, 2016
- inquirer.net, Prosecutors appeal dismissal of graft case against Lapid, Oct. 31, 2016
Plunder case
- inquirer.net, Ex-Ombudsman let Lapids off plunder case before quitting her post, Sept. 20, 2011
- GMA News Online, Pampanga governor files plunder raps vs Lapids, June 1, 2009
- ABS-CBN News, Panlilio files plunder case vs Lapids, 3 others, June 2, 2009
Wife, cash smuggling
- Philstar.com, Lapid wife gets 3 years probation, Feb. 6, 2013
- ABS-CBN News, Lito Lapid’s wife gets 3-year probation for cash smuggling, Feb. 7, 2013
- globalnation.inquirer.net, Lapid’s wife gets 3 years probation in US, Feb. 6, 2013
Mark Lapid, graft charges
- CNN Philippines, Mark Lapid, ex-DOT chiefs face raps for P300-M Boracay sewerage deal, May 19, 2018
- ABS-CBN News, Mark Lapid, ex-DOT execs face graft rap over Boracay water, sewerage system, May 18, 2018
- rappler.com, Mark Lapid, DOT execs from 3 administrations sued over Boracay water contract, May 18, 2018
Relatives in government
- SunStar Pampanga, Lapid joins NPC; to run for Senate, Oct. 4, 2018
- rappler.com, Mark Lapid reappointed to TIEZA, Feb. 26, 2016
- ABS-CBN News, Mark Lapid appointed acting PTA chief, June 4, 2008
- GMA News Online, Arroyo’s ex-students protest Mark Lapid appointment as PTA chief, July 25, 2008
- poracpampanga.gov.ph, Elected Officials
- comelec.gov.ph, Official Ballot – Porac
Mayoral defeats
- ABS-CBN News, It’s Senate again, not Pampanga, for Lito Lapid, Nov. 25, 2009
- philstar.com, Binay welcomes Lapid’s mayoralty bid, May 3, 2006
- Bulatlat, Binay Wins Mayoralty Race despite Political Harassment, May 19, 207
- philstar.com, Lapid loses by huge margin in Pampanga mayoralty race, May 10, 2016
- ABS-CBN News, Lito Lapid seeks Senate return, Oct. 15, 2018
- Manila Times, ‘History with Lourd’: The past is present, Dec. 2, 2018
senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 237
senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 2239
Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III
Office of Serge Osmeña III, Curriculum Vitae and Profile
Commission on Elections, Serge Osmeña III Certificate of Candidacy
Serge Osmeña III Official Facebook Page, Senator Serge Osmeña III
Facebook Page, Serge Osmeña Supporters
Senate of the Philippines, Senator Sergio R. Osmeña III Biography 13th Congress
Senate of the Philippines, https://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/osmena_bio.asp
Commission on Elections, Certified List of Candidates (Provincial)
Tommy Osmeña Official Facebook Page, Tommy Osmeña About
WayBack Machine, John Henry R. Osmeña, Jan. 1, 2007
ABS-CBN Online, Makabayan Coalition backs 9 senate bets, March 3, 2019
CNN Philippines, Makabayan bloc endorses 9 senatorial bets in May polls, March 4, 2019
Rappler, For an ‘independent Senate,’ Makabayan endorses 9 candidates, March 3, 2019
Laws
Senate of the Philippines, Republic Act 9433: Magna Carta for Public Social Workers
Official Gazette, Republic Act 9442: Magna for Disabled Persons, and for Other Purposes
Senate of the Philippines, Republic Act 10606: National Health Insurance Act of 2013
Official Gazette, Republic Act 8972: Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000
Philippine Commission on Women, Republic Act 8980: Early Childhood Care and Development Act
Senate of the Philippines, Republic Act 9439, An Act Prohibiting the Detention of Patients in Hospitals and Medical Clinics on Grounds of Nonpayment of Hospital Bills or Medical Expenses
Official Gazette, Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010
Senate of the Philippines, Republic Act 10368: Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013
Disqualification case vs Serge Osmeña on 2019 Elections
ABS-CBN News, Comelec wants ex-Sen. Osmeña ‘perpetually disqualified’ over campaign expenses, Oct. 29, 2018
Philstar, Comelec Campaign Finance Office: ‘Disqualify Serge Osmeña III,’ Oct. 30, 2018
ABS-CBN News Youtube, Headstart: Serge Osmeña confident won’t disqualify him, Nov. 5, 2018
GMA News Online, Disqualification cases vs. Senate bids of Pimentel, Osmeña still unresolved, Jan. 28, 2019
ABS-CBN News, ‘Now candidates’: Comelec dismisses disqualification cases vs Pimentel, Osmeña, Jan. 26, 2019
“Widespread cheating in 2016 Senate elections” — Osmeña
ABS-CBN News, Osmena decries ‘widespread cheating’ in polls, May 19, 2016
inquirer.net, Serge Osmeña: I wuz robbed, but …, May 20, 2016
Detained as a Martial Law prisoner
Senate of the Philippines, Senator Sergio R. Osmeña III Biography 13th Congress
inquirer.net, Remnants of a dark era, Sept. 22, 2018
Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel
Kokopimentel.org, Office of Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel
Rappler, Senate, House end 1st year with 4 laws passed, June 5, 2017
Official Gazette, Republic Act No. 11032
Official Gazette, Republic Act No. 10969
Official Gazette, Republic Act No. 10931
Official Gazette, Republic Act No. 10928
Senate of the Philippines, Senate Bill No. 1533
Rappler, Koko Pimentel: His father’s son, the President’s ‘protector’, March 25, 2017
Facebook.com, Senator Koko Pimentel, Dec. 28, 2015
Philstar.com, Koko’s wife eyes ‘abuse’ raps, Aug. 14, 2013
ABS-CBN News, Estranged wife accuses Koko Pimentel of non-physical abuse, Aug. 12, 2013
GMA News Online, Wife accuses Koko Pimentel of psychological, economic abuse, Aug. 13, 2013
ABS-CBN News, Koko Pimentel faces fresh disqualification case over senatorial bid, Nov. 8, 2018
CNN Philippines, Comelec junks disqualification cases vs. Pimentel, Feb. 13, 2019
ABS-CBN News, Koko Pimentel proclaimed senator, Aug. 11, 2011
ABS-CBN News, Lobaton camp: Wounds of psycho abuse deeper than physical, Aug. 13, 2013
ABS-CBN News, Koko’s wife breaks down, files for annulment, Sept. 4, 2013
Philstar.com, Koko’s wife seeks annulment of marriage, Sept. 6, 2013
Rappler, Koko Pimentel’s wife seeks marriage annulment, Sept. 4, 2013
ABS-CBN News, Koko’s spouse denies she’s a battered wife, March 15, 2013
Manila Bulletin, Change comes to the Senate, Dec. 22, 2016
Rappler, Koko Pimentel, Migz Zubiri: ‘Bitter rivals’ no more, July 25, 2016
ABS-CBN News, Zubiri apologizes, stands by ‘battered wife’ story, March 18, 2013
Philstar.com, Pimentel forgives Zubiri over wife-beater issue, March 17, 2013
Grace Poe
Office of Senator Grace Poe, Curriculum Vitae
Office of Senator Grace Poe, GRACE POE’s PLATFORM OF GOVERNMENT
Senate.gov.ph, Senator Grace L. Poe
Laws
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 1537
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 1279
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 1149
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 1365
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 159
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 1735
Arroyo presidency
- senate.gov.ph, TRANSCRIPT OF SEN. GRACE POE’S INTERVIEW, July 24, 2018
- GMA News Online, ‘Nagpaparamdam si FPJ,’ Grace Poe says, July 24, 2018
- philstar.com, Poe warns change of House leadership can lead to major gov’t change, July 26, 2018
Presidential COC
- GMA News Online, Comelec en banc cancels Grace Poe’s candidacy for president, Dec. 23, 2015
- ABS-CBN News, Another Comelec division cancels Poe’s COC, Dec. 12, 2015
- rappler.com, Comelec en banc bars Grace Poe from running in 2016, Dec. 23, 2015
- Grace Poe official Facebook page, I am a true Filipino
- GMA News Online, SC: Foundlings are natural-born Filipinos, Poe met 10-year residency, March 11, 2016
- rappler.com, Grace Poe a natural-born Filipino –Supreme Court, March 11, 2016
- Manila Times, Grace Poe ‘natural-born’ –high court, Sept. 21, 2016
American citizenship
- CNN Philippines, Poe urges Filipinos in U.S. to apply for dual citizenship, April 9, 2016
- ABS-CBN News, Poe says she has renounced US citizenship, June 6, 2015
- rappler.com, TIMELINE: Grace Poe’s citizenship, residency, Sept. 4, 2015
Manuel “Mar” Roxas
Team Pilipinas, Mar Roxas
Otsodiretso.ph, Mar Roxas
Marroxas.com, Profile
Laws
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bills 3471 and 104
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bills 1646 and 108
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bills 1658 and 101
- Official Gazette, RA 8748
News5 official Facebook page, Duterte, tinawag na pikon, madrama, balimbing si Roxas, Feb. 2, 2016
Mamasapano
- Presidential Communications Operations Office, SPEECH OF PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE DURING THE PARTIDO DEMOKRATIKO PILIPINO – LAKAS NG BAYAN CAGAYAN CAMPAIGN RALLY, April 16, 2019
- GMA News Online, FULL REPORT: PNP Board of Inquiry on Mamasapano encounter, March 13, 2015
- Philstar.com, Despite Senate and PNP findings, Duterte blames Mar for Mamasapano, April 18, 2019
- Rappler.com, Senate reopens Mamasapano probe to hear ‘new evidence’, Jan. 27, 2016
Lacson defends Roxas on Yolanda funds
- Manila Bulletin, Mar Roxas’ camp thanks Sen. Lacson for clearing him from Yolanda fund mess, March 28, 2019
- ABS-CBN News, Roxas’ campaign chief thanks Lacson for belying Yolanda fake news, March 28, 2019
- GMA News Online, Lacson says Mar Roxas innocent of alleged Yolanda fund misuse, March 28, 2019
Brother
- Inquirer.net, 3 deaths marked Mar’s journey, April 29, 2016
- Rappler.com, 8 things to know about Mar Roxas, Oct. 11, 2015
- ABS-CBN News, #Halalan2016: 6 things to know about Mar Roxas, Oct. 15, 2015
Cynthia Villar
Office of Sen. Cynthia Villar, Sen. Cynthia Villar CV
UNTV News and Rescue, Get It Straight with Daniel Razon, Senator Cynthia Villar eyes dairy farming and more agri programs if re-elected, Jan. 28, 2019
Facebook.com, Cynthia A. Villar, Pondo para sa agrikultura siniguro para sa ACEF, March 6, 2019
Senate of the Philippines, Villar vows to prioritize law allowing coconut farmers to benefit from coco levy funds, Feb. 18, 2019
Facebook.com, Cynthia A. Villar, “90 porsyento ng mga Pilipinong magsasaka..,” Feb. 12, 2019
Senate of the Philippines, Senate Bill No. 1465
Senate of the Philippines, Senate Bill No. 1363
Senate of the Philippines, Senate Bill No. 3002
Senate of the Philippines, Senate Bill No. 2923
Senate of the Philippines, Senate extends Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF), Jan. 18, 2016
Senate of the Philippines, Senate Bill No. 2951
Las Pinas City Official Website, Oath-taking Ceremony
Las Pinas City Official Website, Mrs. Aguilar takes on the poll race
Department of Justice, Directory of Officials
House of Representatives, Hon. Aglipay-Villar, Emmeline
CNN Philippines, Duterte gives 25-year franchise to Villar-owned telco, Oct. 24, 2018
Official Gazette, Republic Act 11089
GMA News Online, Five things you didn’t know about Cynthia Villar, April 7, 2014
Senate of the Philippines, Villar vows to help nurses become entrepreneurs, April 24, 2014
Senate of the Philippines, Senate Bill No. 725
Twitlonger, @Cynthia_Villar, March 3, 2013
GMA News, Pagsubok ng mga Kandidato: Cynthia Villar, Feb. 25, 2013
Rappler, Villar, Ejercito have offshore accounts, April 5, 2013
Inquirer.net, Cynthia Villar unfazed by black propaganda, April 10, 2013
Rappler, Cynthia Villar: Beyond Manny’s shadow, May 6, 2013
Rappler, Cynthia Villar slammed over business interests anew, May 31, 2018
Rappler, No conflict of interest in Boracay probe — Villar, March 7, 2018
Philstar.com, Cynthia Villar: Boracay closure won’t affect family business, March 7, 2018
GMA News Online, Cynthia Villar admits business interests in Boracay, March 7, 2018
GMA News Online, Mark Villar says family businesses won’t benefit from DPWH post, May 23, 2016
Politiko, Netizens on Mark Villar as DPWH secretary: Why him? May 17, 2016
Public-Private Partnership Center, DPWH post: Can Mark Villar rise above business interests?, May 25, 2016
Inquirer.net, Cynthia Villar remains richest senator, May 17, 2018
Philstar.com, Cynthia Villar, Manny Pacquiao still richest senators, May 18, 2018
BusinessWorld, Villar, Pacquiao richest senator, May 17, 2018
Forbes, #317 Manuel Villar
CNN Philippines, Cynthia Villar denies unli rice ban, June 16, 2017
Inquirer.net, Cynthia Villar clarifies unli rice remarks, June 16, 2017
ABS-CBN News, Villar: Keep calm, no ‘unli rice’ ban, June 15, 2017
Rappler, After criticisms, Villar clarifies she won’t file bill vs unlimited rice, June 15, 2017
Facebook.com, Cynthia A. Villar, April 12, 2019
Facebook.com, Cynthia A. Villar, March 7, 2019
Facebook.com, Cynthia A. Villar, #MisisHanepBuhay #CynthiaVillar talks about the TESDA-accredited Construction School, March 11, 2019
Facebook.com, Cynthia A. Villar, Pangarap ng inyong #MisisHanepBuhay ang magkaroon ng isang farm school, March 18, 2019
Inquirer.net, Villar group pulls out of race for 3rd telco, Nov. 5, 2018
BusinessWorld, Villar’s Streamtech not vying for 3rd telco slot, Nov. 5, 2018
ABS-CBN News, Villar’s Streamtech backs out of third major telco bid, Nov. 4, 2018
Philstar.com, Villars had nothing to do with appointment as PCOO chief, Andanar says, June 8, 2016
PCIJ, SALNs to impeach CJ, other execs but Palace redacts Cabinet SALNs, Sept. 22, 2017
Inquirer.net, Outstanding doctors honored at Mary Mediatrix hospital’s 55th anniversary, Oct. 4, 2013
Guided by the code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network at Poynter, VERA Files tracks the false claims, flip-flops, misleading statements of public officials and figures, and debunks them with factual evidence. Find out more about this initiative and ourmethodology.
