WITH THE senatorial election campaigns entering the homestretch, the Ateneo School of Government’s (ASoG) Political Democracy and Reforms (Poder) Program held its first press briefing and forum on Tuesday, April 16 for its initiative FactCheck 2013.

The brief is the first in a series of press releases aimed to check the consistency of senatorial candidates’ claims and positions on several national issues with their respective track records.

The fact-checking panel consists of Vice President for Social Development Atty. Jaime Hofileña, AsoG Poder Program Director Joy G. Aceron and Political Science Department instructor RR Rañeses.

“In Philippine elections, the veracity and quality of information made available to the public is always suspect, especially during the campaign periods when candidates make heavy claims regarding their accomplishments and promises,” said Hofileña.

The findings

Coalitional politics and the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill were discussed in the brief.

The fact checking group discovered that Team PNoy candidates are “largely consistent” with the stand of the Liberal Party (LP) and President Benigno Aquino III.

“Based on the fact-checking, at least with those with available data, by and large it [the candidates’ stands] is consistent,” said Aceron.

The fact checking also revealed that United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) candidates are not directly in opposition to the Aquino administration.

“The number of UNA senatorial bets… who are critical about the programs of the President is practically offset by those whose positions are consistent with those of the administration or who do not have easily-determinable stands,” the brief said.

It also indicated that all top 20 senatorial candidates “support the passage of the FOI Bill except for Jamby Madrigal, who has no categorical stand.”

Disclaimers

However, the brief only covers the top 20 candidates in the most recent Social Weather Stations survey.

The fact-checking group also warns that some of those in the affirmative do not have a track record of directly supporting the bill.

“Based on the fact-checking, there are some candidates who were found with no track record directly supporting their own FOI claims,” said Aceron.

“These include Nancy Binay, Cynthia Villar, Bam Aquino, Grace Poe, Ramon Magsaysay, Ernesto Maceda, and Ting Ting Cojuangco,” she added.

Future press releases will include fact-checking findings on political dynasties, party development, conditional cash transfer, electoral reform, employment, environment, foreign affairs, local elections and the “Death Agenda” issue.