(Fourth of seven parts) In the May 9 elections, Filipino voters will choose 12 among 64 candidates for the Senate for a term of six years. The primary job of a senator is to craft pieces of legislation to address policy gaps, improve existing laws through amendments, scrutinize the national government’s proposed annual budget, exercise oversight functions, among other duties.
In this seven-part series, VERA Files Fact Check dug up relevant information about select senatorial hopefuls to help the electorate in making the choice.
From the Commission on Elections’ official list of 64 senatorial candidates, we narrowed it down to 31 based on the following criteria:
- Reelectionists;
- Former government officials;
- Members of, or those backed by major political parties or top presidential and vice presidential slates; and
- Candidates that have made it at least once in the top 20 of pre-election surveys conducted by independent pollsters Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations.
The 31 candidates were then grouped based on their Senate experience – those with and those without – then arranged alphabetically.
Each profile contains the candidate’s legislative agenda, 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, done by VERA Files Fact Check and its media and academic partners in the Tsek.ph collaboration.
Part 4 of the series covers former senators Jinggoy Estrada and Gringo Honasan, and reelectionists Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian and Richard Gordon.
Know more about your senatorial bets:
Jinggoy Estrada
Sherwin Gatchalian
Richard Gordon
Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan
Check out other senatorial bets: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 5, Part 6, and Part 7
Editor’s note: This series was produced with the help of two students of the University of the Philippines Baguio as part of their internship at VERA Files.
Have you seen any dubious claims, photos, memes, or online posts that you want us to verify? Fill out this reader request form or send it to ‘VERA, the truth bot’ on Viber.
Sources
Estrada
- Senate of the Philippines, Senator Jinggoy Ejercity Estrada Biography
- Senate Electoral Tribunal, Hon. Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
- Jinggoy Estrada Official YouTube, Trabaho sa Bawat Pilipino
- Jinggoy Estrada Official YouTube, Boses ng Masang Pilipino
- Jinggoy Estrada Official Website, Jinggoy Estrada Anak ng Masa
- Jinggoy Estrada Official Website, About Jinggoy Estrada
- CNN Philippines, Up Close with senate aspirant Jinggoy Estrada | News Night, Sept. 30, 2021
- Rappler, Jinggoy Estrada seeks Senate comeback, files COC, Oct. 3, 2021
- Senate of the Philippines, Republic Act 10361 Batas Kasambahay
- Senate of the Philippines, Republic Act 10151 Alllowing the Employment of Night Workers
- Official Gazette, Republic Act 10022 Strengthening The Migrant Workers Act
- Senate of the Philippines, Republic Act 10691 Strengthened Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Act
- Senate of the Philippines, Republic Act 10917 Strengthening the Special Program for Employment of Students
- Rappler, Court orders arrest of Jinggoy Estrada, June 23, 2014
- Inquirer.net, After 3 years in jail, Jinggoy Estrada walks free, Sept. 16, 2017
- ABS-CBN News, Jinggoy Estrada released, back with family, Sept. 16, 2017
- Inquirer.net, Graft court: Jinggoy Estrada main plunderer in PDAF scam, Sept. 6, 2019
- Philstar.com, Jinggoy eyes Senate comeback after failed 2019 bid, Oct. 3, 2021
- Inquirer.net, Jinggoy Estrada back in PNP jail, June 24, 2014
- Philippine Daily Inquirer, What Went Before: Jinggoy Estrada was coaccused in pa’s plunder case, June 24, 2014
- Reuters, Philippines’ Estrada guilty of plunder, gets life, Sept. 12, 2007
- ABS-CBN News, Jinggoy Estrada brought to police station for ‘violating’ lockdown, May 3, 2020
- Rappler, Jinggoy Estrada arrested for ‘violating’ lockdown in San Juan, May 3, 2020
- Interaksyon, Jinggoy’s 3-hour detention drew comparisons with ordinary Filipinos’ violent arrests, May 4, 2020
- Philstar.com, Jinggoy, Lorna lead 56th FAMAS awards, Dec. 2, 2008
- Rappler, House of Estrada seeks comeback: JV, Jinggoy running for senator in 2022, Sept. 29, 2022
- Philstar.com, 10 senatorial bets on Marcos-Duterte’s slate, Jan. 20, 2022
- Philippine News Agency, Palace extends ‘get well’ wishes to ex-President Estrada, March 30, 2021
- Inquirer.net, Family feud rocks Estrada dynasty, Nov. 9, 2012
- Inquirer.net, JV Ejercito seeks Senate comeback in 2022 elections, Oct. 2, 2021
- Rappler, Old name, new promises? Janella Estrada begins San Juan bid, March 30, 2019
- One News, FACT CHECK: ER Ejercito No Longer Laguna’s Governor Since 2014, March 7, 2022
- Esquire Philippines, 75 Filipino Celebrities Who Became Politicians, Oct. 11, 2017
- Inquirer.net, Duterte endorses Jinggoy Estrada for senator, March 22, 2022
- ABS-CBN News, Duterte endorses some senatorial candidates from PDP-Laban, UniTeam, April 2, 2022
- Rappler, Duterte endorses 8 other Senate bets not in PDP-Laban list, April 1, 2022
Gatchalian
- Win Gatchalian Official Website, About Win
- Win Gatchalian Official Website, Curriculum Vitae
- Win Gatchalian Official Website, Intro Spiel
- Senate of the Philippines, Senator Win Gatchalian Resume
- Rappler, Sherwin Gatchalian seeks Senate reelection, files COC, Oct. 28, 2021
- Senate of the Philippines, Free College Law a “World-Class Reform” – Gatchalian, August 4, 2017
- CNN Philippines, Up close with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian | The Final Word, Nov. 17, 2021
- Inquirer.net, Winning senator Gatchalian indicted over anomalous bank deal, June 1, 2016
- Office of the Ombudsman, Pichay, Gatchalians, 20 others indicted for P780million bank deal, June 1, 2016
- Sunstar.com, Pichay, Gatchalian indicted for P780-M bank deal, June 1, 2016
- Senate of the Philippines, Senator Gatchalian Vindicated by Dismissal of Graft Charges in Sandiganbayan, Oct. 19, 2016
- CNN Philippines, Court junks graft, malversation raps vs. Sen. Gatchalian, Oct. 20, 2016.
- CNN Philippines, Lawmakers laud signing of free tuition bill
- Official Website of Valenzuela City, Mayor REX Gatchalian
- Official Website of Valenzuela City, District 1 Representative WES Gatchalian
- CNN Philippines, Gatchalian brothers seek to exchange posts in 2022 polls
- Rex Gatchalian Official Facebook Page, Team Tuloy Progreso, Valenzuela!
- CNN Philippines, Gatchalian confirms cursing at Twitter critics, Jan. 2, 2018
- Inquirer.net, Gatchalian snaps on Twitter; hurls expletives at online bashers, Jan. 2, 2018
- Rappler, Netizens slam Sherwin Gatchalian over ‘Ulol, Gago’ tweets, Jan. 1, 2018
- Senate of the Philippines, Radyo Singko Early, All Ready interview ni Senator Win Gatchalian kasama si Orly Mercado at Cheryl Cosim ukol sa ‘learning from home’ system, May 8, 2020.
- Philstar.com, PE, home economics also important — UP colleges May 16, 2020
- University of the Philippines Diliman, Statement of the UP Diliman-College of Human Kinetics on the Importance of Physical Education in the overall Development of the Filipino Children and Adolescents during the time of Pandemic
- University of the Philippines Diliman, Strengthen, not Remove: UP Diliman-College of Home Economics Response to the Statement of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on the Temporary Removal of Home Economics in Schools, GMA News, 09 May 2020
Gordon
- Dick Gordon’s Official Website, Gordon vows to focus on pandemic recovery plan, Dec. 28, 2021
- Dick Gordon’s Official Website, Gordon pushes for measure that will create special court to handle cases committed by policemen, Jan. 27, 2022
- Manila Bulletin, Gordon plans to make Mindanao ‘RICH’; here’s what he means, Feb. 26, 2022
- Dick Gordon’s Official Website, Gordon vows to revisit measures vs political dynasty, Dec. 28, 2021
- Dick Gordon Official Facebook Post, Jan. 22, 2022
- The Manila Times, Duterte to Gordon: Return P86 million, Sept.24, 2021
- Manila Bulletin, SC ruling ordered Gordon to return ‘disallowed’ funds worth P86M, says Duterte, Sept. 28, 2021
- GOV.PH, It’s Ombudsman mandate to probe Gordon: Palace, Oct. 20, 2021
- Philstar Global, Gordon ready to face COA on Subic funds, Oct. 6, 2021
- GMA News Online, Gordon claims COA harassed him for 30-year-old case when he was SBMA chairman, Dec. 21, 2021
- Dick Gordon’s Official Website, SBMA funds spent to transform former US naval base into investment hub, Nov. 10, 2021
- Rappler, Duterte accuses Gordon of using Red Cross to fund his election campaigns, Sept. 2, 2021
- Inquirer.net, Duterte tells Gordon to let go of Red Cross: ‘You’re a double agent’, Sept. 23, 2021
- Inquirer.net, RC: Gordon’s P119.6M PDAF used for aid programs fully liquidated, Oct. 08, 2021
- Philstar Global, Gordon sees no wrong with giving PDAF to PRC, Sept. 23, 2021
- Inquirer.net, Duterte, 11 others accused of crimes against humanity before ICC, April 24, 2017
- GMA News Online, Lawyer for Matobato files complaint vs. Duterte at ICC, April 24, 2017
- Philstar Global, Matobato lawyer files case vs Rody before ICC, April 25, 2017
- The New York Times, Charge Rodrigo Duterte With Mass Murder, Lawyer Tells The Hague, April 24, 2017
- Dick Gordon’s Official Facebook Post, Dec. 15, 2012
- FAMPeople, Amelia Gordon, May 18, 2019
- Philippine Red Cross’ Official Facebook Post, April 13, 2017
- Inquirer.net, Ex-Olongapo mayor Gordon dies of cardiac arrest,Feb. 09, 202
- Inquirer.net, Gordon ‘shattered’ by death of brother ex-Olongapo mayor Bong, Feb. 10, 2021
- GOV.PH, Panelo mourns death of ex-Olongapo mayor James Gordon, Feb. 13, 2021
- Anne Gordon’s Official Facebook Post, May 4,2019
- Inquirer.net, Lifting Olongapo folk out of poverty is Anne Gordon’s mission, May 4, 2019
- Subic bay News, Ann Gordon Sworn In As Sbma Director, Feb. 18, 2012
- Philstar Global, Ex-Zambales vice gov named SBMA director, Feb. 5, 2012
- Senate of the Philippines Official Facebook Post, Aug. 5, 2018
- Senate of the Philippines Official Website, Gordon welcomes 3 presidential bets’ support for his 2022 Senate bid, Oct.16, 2021
- Business Mirror, Gordon, Villanueva welcome 3 presidential bets’ support for ’22 Senate election bid, Oct. 18, 2021
- Inquirer.net, Gordon, labor leader Labog now part of 1Sambayan’s Senate slate, March 18, 2022
- Rappler, 1Sambayan includes Gordon, Labog in its Senate slate, March 18, 2022
- Manila Bulletin, Senate bets Gordon, Labog now included in 1Sambayan slate, March 19, 2022
- Senate of the Philippines Official Website, Olongapo Honors Mayor James L. Gordon On His 100th Birth Anniversary, Jan.16, 2017
- Senate of the Philippines Official Website, Olongapo commemorates founding father’s 43rd death anniversary, Feb. 19, 2010
Honasan
- Senate of the Philippines, Senator Gregorio Ballesteros Honasan II Biography
- Senate of the Philippines, Gregorio B. Honasan II
- Gringo Honasan Official Website, About Gringo Honasan
- Gringo Honasan Official Facebook Page, Mga Nagawa ni Gringo sa Senado
- Gringo Honasan Official Facebook, Gringo at the SMNI News Senatorial Debate
- Gringo Honasan Youtube, Ang Top Three Priorities ni Gringo
- Gringo Honasan Youtube, Gringo Honasan: Magtulungan Tayo
- Department of Health, Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act of 1999
- Official Gazette, Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004
- Official Gazette, Republic Act 9003 or Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000
- Official Gazette, Republic Act 10591 or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Act
- Inquirer.net, Honasan takes oath as new DICT chief, attends Cabinet meeting, July 1, 2019
- GMA News Online, Duterte formally appoints Honasan as DICT chief, Nov. 22, 2018
- Philippine News Agency, CA confirms appointment of Honasan as DICT chief, Sept. 11, 2019
- Rappler, Gringo Honasan is 4th senator charged over PDAF scam, Aug. 1, 2017
- Philippine News Agency, Sandiganbayan orders arrest of Honasan over P30M pork barrel scam, Aug. 10, 2017
- Inquirer.net, I’m innocent, says Gringo as he posts bail on graft charges, Aug. 12, 2017
- ABS-CBN News, Honasan cleared in 2 graft cases over pork barrel scam, Jan. 14, 2021
- Philstar.com, Sandiganbayan junks graft cases vs Honasan over pork barrel, Jan. 14, 2021
- Rappler, 10 things to know about Gringo Honasan, Oct. 2, 2015
- Inquirer.net, Honasan says of coup past: I’m a good boy now, Feb. 11, 2016
- Rappler, Finally, Bin-Go: Binay, Honasan to file candidacy, Oct. 11, 2015
- Inquirer.net, Honasan files candidacy for Senate comeback, Oct. 1, 2021
- Inquirer.net, Lacson-Sotto tandem bares 10 senatorial bets for 2022, July 21, 2021
- Rappler, Honasan, a key player in EDSA revolution, is part of Marcos-Duterte slate, Feb 2, 2022
- GMA News Online, Gringo Honasan, who helped topple Ferdinand Marcos, joins Bongbong’s Senate slate, Feb. 4, 2022
(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 our methodology.)
