Archive - FACT CHECK

STATEMENT: During the CNN vice presidential debate on April 10, candidates were asked about their plans to ensure that the rapid economic growth of the Philippines continues. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano responded by bringing up the issues of criminality, illegal drugs and poverty, which he said are all worsening. Cayetano said: “Ang ekonomiya po ay

STATEMENT: During the CNN vice presidential debate Sunday, candidate Bongbong Marcos, asked about his opposition to the passage of the “sin tax” law, said the measure has nothing to offer those from the affected industries. Marcos said: “Sa pagpataas ng ‘sin tax’ ay mababawasan ang ating makikita na produksyon, na wala namang kapalit para doon

By JAKE SORIANO DURING the CNN-sponsored vice presidential debate Sunday, five of the six candidates talked about their proposed plans to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao. No one mentioned how they and their running mates intend to implement the peace agreements already signed by the Philippine government. Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. proposed to “continue” the peace

STATEMENT: Independent presidential candidate Grace Poe, during the March 20 PiliPinas Debates 2016 in Cebu, mentioned several numbers. On the topic of clean energy, she said: “Yung ating solar energy ay importante, wind energy malaki ang potential, nasa 70,000 megawatts ang madadagdag, pati na rin ang hydro at least 30,000 megawatts sa Mindanao pa lamang.”

STATEMENT: Presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte, responding to a question about coal and pollution during the second presidential debates on March 20, brought up the El Niño phenomenon and said it is climate change. “You know, even climate change, climate change does not have to be discussed. It is here. El Niño is the climate change. Kaya nga yung

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Rodrigo Duterte said in a speech to the Rotary Club of Manila last Jan. 14 he was once charged with acts of lasciviousness. But in the first presidential debate in Cagayan de Oro on Feb. 21, he denied such cases. A video of Duterte’s speech to the Rotarians was uploaded to YouTube by “Duterte Movement.” Duterte:  “In fact,

STATEMENT: In an interview in Mati, Davao Oriental on March 2, vice presidential candidate Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the Philippines is one of the remaining five countries in the world without a K to12 Education System. Asked about educational reforms the country needs, he said, “Isa na lamang sa limang bansa sa mundo ang Pilipinas na

STATEMENT: On separate occasions, candidates Mar Roxas and Chiz Escudero accused each other of not doing enough for their respective home provinces. Vice presidential bet Escudero, campaigning in Roxas City on Feb. 17, said Roxas could have done more for Capiz after years in public office. Among others, Escudero said the poverty gap in Capiz is “so

STATEMENT: During the first Comelec-sponsored PiliPinas Debates 2016 on Feb. 21, independent presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe said,: “Kailangan na po ng replanting ng mga niyog. Sapagka’t tayo po ang fifth largest producer ng niyog sa buong mundo, pero hindi natin sila binibigyan ng sapat na suporta (We need to replant coconut trees. We are

By ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS TWO stories that generated passionate exchanges in social media the past days underscore how new media is being used to demand transparency and honesty from candidates and their staff in the campaign for the May elections. The first story was about the shoes of Brian Llamanzares, son of presidential candidate Grace