Nine of the ten candidates for President in the May 9 elections exchanged wits, platforms, and promises to Filipino voters in an event televised live on Sunday that was more forum than debate.
As groups of their supporters rallied outside the University of Santo Tomas campus in Manila, the presidential bets tried to outdo one another in answering questions on corruption, the economy, COVID-19, same-sex marriages, divorce, religious groups, the West Philippine Sea, and the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.
As expected, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Vice President Leni Robredo looked and sounded the most polished among the contenders, being the bets with the most years of experience in government in the event staged by CNN Philippines — a day after their running mates had their turn in the vice-presidential debate.
Senator Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso stuck to their guns on certain issues, while labor leader Leody De Guzman and doctor-lawyer Jose Montemayor provided the most fireworks – with the former bluntly telling the latter was a clone of Marcos for his supposed pro-capitalist, anti-worker stances.
Former Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella, ex-Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, and Muslim leader Faisal Mangondato had their moments in the three-hour event at the UST auditorium, but their answers were not expected to shake up the presidential race currently led by Marcos in various surveys with just over two months before Election Day.
The candidates unveiled their economic agenda, some giving hints on those who would constitute their respective economic teams during their six-year term ending in 2028.
Although Lacson did not name members of his would-be economic team if elected as the country’s 17th President, he did say he would appoint an expert in the field — and that there would be “no trade-off” between the economy and health.
“COVID-19 is here to stay whether it is pandemic or endemic. So, we need policy direction, and we must be ready to face the next pandemic,” Lacson said., adding the government must extend loans to micro, small, and medium enterprises hit hard by COVID-19.
Robredo stressed that to fight corruption in the country, there was a need to strictly implement anti-corruption measures in government, and to not merely rely on public officials to be good.
“But there has to be a system which will force him (official) to be good,” she said, declaring that her anti-corruption practices started as soon as she was proclaimed as Camarines Sur congresswoman in 2013, which ensured that her office was never offered bribes.
The Vice President also said that if she succeeds President Rodrigo Duterte, she will prioritize probes into the Bureau of Customs, the Bureau of Immigration, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Speaking on virtual home turf – at the UST grounds in Sampaloc – Domagoso declared that if he is elected president along with his running mate Doc Willie Ong, the first two years of his mandate will be focused on his platform of protecting the life and livelihood of the Filipino people.
The Manila mayor said he plans to undertake construction of 17 new and modern medical facilities exclusively catering as infectious and cancer hospitals.
Pacquiao said the government should focus on revenue income, as the country’s non-tax income only comprised 6 percent of the country’s total income because of corruption.
But the boxing legend-turned-senator was visibly uncomfortable answering a question on same-sex marriages and civil unions – inside one of the country’s oldest Catholic universities, no less — as the evangelical Christian stressed it was not God’s design or mandate for persons of the same gender to be wedded.
Gonzales said he would encourage sources of capital for businesses to flourish and employment to increase.
The ex-Defense secretary said even small shops, such as those in markets or sari-sari stores, must be provided with additional capital to help in their livelihood.
Businessman Mangondato acknowledged the importance of presidential debates, noting it will serve as an avenue to lay out the proposed plans of the candidates in solving the problems of the country.
The Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi’s presidential bet also said candidates will not solve all issues in the country with all their programs and platforms since they were not included in the General Appropriations Act or the national budget.
Montemayor, however, disagreed that a debate was important. “This is not a classic debate. Constrained, one minute lang, tigil na agad. Kung may brain ka,” he said.
“Iyong plataporma, katulad ng exchange namin ni Ka Leody, hindi madiscuss ng mabuti iyong issue. This is not a debate. This is not the classic debate we expect,” the doctor-lawyer added.
Abella, however, said presidential debates are important, adding that all candidates can voice out their platforms and should respect all points of view.
The former Foreign Affairs Undersecretary, who is an independent candidate, said politics is not a question of “power play” but it is a question of “respecting each other.”
De Guzman then drew attention to the absence of former senator Marcos Jr., saying: “Dapat nandito ‘yung isang kasama namin pero bakit hindi nagpunta dito?” [One of our fellow candidates should be here, but why didn’t he come over?]
“Importante ito para malaman sana at masabi kung ano ‘yung mga programa, malaman ng bansa ng ating mga botante kung ano ‘yung plataporma [It was important for the people to learn, and for us to say, what our programs are, for the country and the voters to know what our platforms are],” the labor leader added.
Marcos’ camp earlier said they had decided to decline the invitation due to a conflict in schedule.