From song and dance numbers to motorcades, Senate hopefuls have employed various ways, tactics, and styles to woo voters. Some went house-to-house; others opted to address larger audiences through campaign caravans.
But where do senatorial candidates stand on issues that voters most care about?
In the second half of Vera Files’ election series, we kept track of statements, advocacy, policy agenda, previous bills, and consistency in the standpoint of senatorial candidates on the five most “urgent national concerns” identified in the February 2019 Pulse Asia pre-electoral survey.
These are:
- controlling inflation
- improving or increasing workers’ pay
- fighting graft and corruption in government
- creating more jobs
- fighting criminality
Pulse Asia asked 1,800 likely voters nationwide to pick from a list three issues that need urgent action from the Duterte administration, or name an issue themselves. The survey had a ± 2.3 margin of error.
The fifth part of the series covers candidates endorsed by Otso Diretso: MAGDALO Representative Gary Alejano, Sen. Bam Aquino, lawyer Chel Diokno, former Bangsamoro Transition Committee member Samira Gutoc, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, lawyer Romy Macalintal, former senator and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, and former Quezon Province 4th District Representative Erin Tañada.
Here are facts you need to know:
Gary Alejano, Magdalo Party-list Representative
Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Senator
Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, Dean, De La Salle College of Law, Chair, Free Legal Assistance Group
Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, former member of Bangsamoro Transition Commission
Florin Hilbay, former Solicitor General, UP Law Associate Professor
Romulo “Romy” Macalintal, Lawyer
Manuel “Mar” Roxas, former Interior and Local Gov’t Secretary
Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, former Quezon 4th District Representative
Sources:
Gary Alejano
The Catholic Media Network on Facebook, https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=319233015433110&id;=824639654214231, April 27, 2019 (1:26:34-1:35:04)
ABS-CBN, 15 years after Oakwood mutiny, Alejano says ‘no regrets’, July 27, 2018
inquirer.net, WHAT WENT BEFORE: Oakwood Mutiny and Trillanes’ 2nd try to oust Arroyo, September 4, 2018
Rappler, Disobey Duterte’s ‘illegal orders,’ Alejano asks AFP, PNP, September 5, 2018
Gary Alejano on Facebook, https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1966804020112227&id;=490802617712382, March 29, 2019
CNN Philippines on Youtube, CNN Philippines hosts Senatorial Debate, April 27, 2019
GMA News, #Debate2019: Alejano, Alunan, Colmenares, Marcos, Pimentel | Round 1, February 9, 2019
Gary Alejano on Facebook, https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1963959047063391&id;=490802617712382&fs;=0&focus;_composer=0, March 27, 2019 (1:53-3:00, on improving workers’ pay)
Gary Alejano on Facebook, https://m.facebook.com/GaryAlejano/posts/1719197141539584
Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV
Bam Aquino campaign team, Sen. Bam’s Stand on Issues
Bam Aquino campaign team, Laws by Sen. Bam Aquino
On inflation
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 1798
- senate.gov.ph, Sen. Bam: Pass Bawas Presyo Bill, fix TRAIN law on top of wage increase, Nov. 5, 2018
- ABS-CBN News, Hot Copy on Headstart: Senatorial candidate Bam Aquino, Feb. 21, 2019
On increasing wages
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 2139
- senate.gov.ph, Bam wants better pay for election officials, Jan. 14, 2019
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 710
- senate.gov.ph, Sen. Bam proposes mandatory monthly net take-home pay, March 19, 2019
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 704
- bamaquino.com, Sen. Bam: Execute pay hike for teachers, not just ‘tokhangers’, Feb. 8, 2018
On graft and corruption
- senate.gov.ph, Sen. Bam: Abolishing PCGG endorses corruption, historical revisionism, May 16, 2016
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 1688
- senate.gov.ph, Sen. Bam challenges Congress to pass anti-political dynasty law before Cha-Cha talks, Feb. 14, 2018
On creating jobs
- Bam Aquino official Facebook page, Naisabatas na natin ang Libreng Kolehiyo, April 12, 2019
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 1278
- bamaquino.com, Sen. Bam: Address jobs mismatch to help solve unemployment, April 2, 2019
- senate.gov.ph, Sen. Bam: Trabaho Center Bill to help ease burden of finding employment, April 15, 2019
- ABS-CBN News, Hot Copy on Headstart: Senatorial candidate Bam Aquino, Feb. 21, 2019
- News5, APLIKANTE SA SENADO – SEN. BAM AQUINO, May 4, 2019
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 2046
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 2752
On fighting criminality
- Benigno Bam Aquino Youtube channel, Senator Bam Aquino on War on Drugs, April 6, 2019
- Manila Bulletin, #Harapan2019: Bam Aquino on criminal age of responsibility, Feb. 18, 2019
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Resolution 772
Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/18/transcript-harapan-2019-the-abs-cbn-senatorial-town-hall-debate/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3MaZuhyphc FAST TALK: Chel Diokno
http://rogue.ph/sona2017-chel-dioknos-war-war-drugs/
Samira Gutoc-Tomawis
Manila Bulletin, (TRANSCRIPT) Harapan 2019: The ABS-CBN Senatorial Town Hall Debate, Feb. 17, 2019
Esquire Mag Website, Esq&a;: Samira Gutoc, Nov. 12, 2018
Rappler Youtube, 2019 Senatorial Forum: Are you #TheLeaderIWant?, March 5, 2019
Businessworld Online, Opposition lays out economic agenda based on safety, rural investment, March 18, 2019
GMA News Youtube, REPLAY: Debate 2019: The GMA Senatorial Face-Off, Feb. 9, 2019
Florin Hilbay
On inflation
- Manila Bulletin, #Harapan2019: Florin Hilbay on Inflation and Prices of Goods, Feb. 17, 2019
- Pilo Hilbay official Facebook page, Inflation rose from 6.4% to 6.7%, Oct. 5, 2018
On workers’ pay
- News5, APLIKANTE SA SENADO – ATTY. FLORIN HILBAY, Feb. 13, 2019
- ABS-CBN News, Headstart: Senatorial candidate Florin Hilbay, March 6, 2019
- CNN Philippines, The Filipino Votes: Senatorial Forum Part 2, Jan. 27, 2019
On graft and corruption
- GMA Public Affairs, Investigative Documentaries: Pagpapalawak ng 4Ps, planong isulong ni Atty. Florin Hilbay, Feb. 28, 2019
- UNTV News and Rescue, Ex-SolGen Florin Hilbay talks about his platforms for the 2019 Senate race, Jan. 14, 2019
- rappler.com, #TheLeaderIWant: Florin Hilbay and his dream to transition from lawyering to legislating, Dec. 6, 2018
- Florin Hilbay campaign team, Curriculum Vitae
On fighting criminality
- Florin Hilbay official Twitter account, The greatest weapons, Aug. 23, 2017
- Florin Hilbay official Twitter account, The core of a genuine drug war, Sept. 17, 2017
- Florin Hilbay official Twitter account, What we know, June 28, 2018
- Manila Bulletin, #Harapan2019: Florin Hilbay on age of criminal responsibility, Feb. 18, 2019
- ABS-CBN News, Headstart: Pilo Hilbay shares stance on federalism, death penalty, other issues, March 6, 2019
Romulo “Romy” Macalintal
Maca-Romy on Facebook, https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157294434208919&id;=649948918&fs;=0&focus;_composer=0, March 16, 2019 (3:40-6:01, on creating more jobs) (6:55-8:50, on fighting criminality) (8:54-9:49, on fighting graft and corruption) (9:49-11:20, on controlling inflation)
GMA Public Affairs, Investigative Documentaries: Atty. Romulo Macalintal, nais amyendahan ang Centenarian Law, April 6, 2019
CNN Philippines, CNN Philippines’ third senatorial forum moderated by Ruth Cabal and Cherie Mercado, March 3, 2019 (24:35-26:08, 29:46-31:20, 31:20-31:35, and 44:14-45:58, on fighting criminality)
ABS-CBN News, Harapan 2019: The ABS-CBN Senatorial Town Hall Debate | 24 Feb 2019, February 24, 2019
Maca-Tomy on Facebook, https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=818175358541317&id;=708251859533668&set;=pcb.818175405207979&source;=49
CNN Philippines on Facebook, https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2177535952339751&id;=1515763818663512&fs;=0&focus;_composer=0&_rdr
Manuel “Mar” Roxas
Mar Roxas official Facebook page, Ano ang dahil ng aking pagtakbo sa senado? Kayo mismo., Feb. 19, 2019
Team Pilipinas, MAR ROXAS
Senate.gov.ph, Senator Mar A. Roxas
On inflation
- ABS-CBN News, Mar Roxas: High inflation rate was brought about by policy failure, Feb. 12, 2019
- Manila Bulletin, #Harapan2019: Mar Roxas on the Prices of Goods, Feb. 25, 2019
On increasing workers’ wages
- Mar Roxas official Facebook page, Para sa mga manggagawang Pilipino, March 13, 2019
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bills 2293 and 103
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bills 1882 and 1194
On graft and corruption
- otsodiretso.ph, PLATAPORMA
- marroxas.com, PUBLIC SERVICE
On creating jobs
- marroxas.com, EKONOMISMO – DAGDAG TRABAHO
- senate.gov.ph, Senate Bill 1646
On fighting criminality
- ABS-CBN News, Headstart: Senatorial candidate Mar Roxas, Feb. 11, 2019
- ABS-CBN News, Mar Roxas sumalang sa ‘fast talk’, Feb. 24, 2019
Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III
Manila Bulletin, (TRANSCRIPT) Harapan 2019: The ABS-CBN Senatorial Town Hall Debate, Feb. 24, 2019
Official Facebook Page, Erin Tañada: IBASURA ANG KONTRATWALISASYON! Mensahe sa Mayo Uno, Araw ng Paggawa, mula kay Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada, April 30, 2012
Official Facebook Page, Erin Tañada Photo: “Kailangan mahuli ang mga taong gumagawa ng graft and corruption”, Dec. 14, 2018
Wilfredo G. Villanueva Blog, “IMPORTANTENG MAISAMA SA CONVERSATION”—ERIN TAÑADA, Nov. 30, 2018
Super Radyo DZBB 594khz, LIVE sa DZBB: Rep. Zajid “Dong” Mangudadatu at Atty. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III sa “Ikaw Na Ba? The Senatorial Interview 2019,” Jan. 24, 2019
Erin Tañada Official Website, Lowering of age of criminal liability, Jan. 23, 2019
Erin Tañada Official Website, Dagdag buwis, dagdag pahirap, Jan. 8, 2019
Congress of the Philippines, RA 9346: Abolishing Death Penalty
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.
