SEVEN SENATORIAL candidates declared their positions and possible solutions on certain national issues at the Cable News Network (CNN) Philippines’ second #TheFilipinoVotes: Senatorial  Forum held at the Hyundai Hall in Areté on January 27. The event was presented in partnership with the Ateneo School of Government.

The aspiring senators responded to trending questions on social media, as well as inquiries posted by various organizations and audience members. A “yes or no” portion also highlighted the candidates’ personal views on the issues such as the legalization of divorce, medical marijuana, and the death penalty, among others.

Among the candidates present were former Interior and Local Government secretaries Rafael Alunan III and Mar Roxas, former congressmen Neri Javier Colmenares and Erin Tañada, former Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) member Samira Gutoc, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who recently withdrew his senatorial bid due to “health reasons.”

Moderated by CNN Philippines chief correspondent Pia Hontiveros and senior correspondent Pinky Webb, the forum was monitored by UP Diliman resident sociologist Nicole Curato.  

Platforms and priority legislations

Among the highlights of the event was the senatoriables’ platforms and legislations that they would prioritize once elected.

Tañada said that he would push for a nationwide minimum wage board to address the social stress brought on by the inflation of commodities. He questioned the existing regionalized wage system by asking if regionalized salaries were justifiable when price inflation created a nationalized effect.

Roxas emphasized his goal for economic development and said that he would repeal the tax probation for petroleum under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. He also contradicted the Department of Finance’s conviction for the tax reform on foreign investments, saying that investors should instead be welcomed to better the economy.

On the other hand, Roque asserted his conviction for the zero hunger bill as well as the continuation of programs that he helped institutionalize. Among these programs are the policies for universal health care and the provision of basic necessities especially food to the poor. He also spoke of Free Irrigation Service Act which consists of policies for farmers who normally have to pay for the water and technology they use on their crops.

Making his political debut, Hilbay shared his beginnings in Tondo as his motivation to building on the existing Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) program. He plans to make the 4Ps program more inclusive with the hopes of uplifting the situation of the poor.

“You will have a statesman, not a class politician,” Hilbay promised.

For her part, Gutoc raised her platform on peace education among young children to generate genuine peace and respect amongst the multiethnic, multicultural peoples in the country. “Peace education ensures that we are Filipino, and our values are not erased,” she concluded.

Colmenares talked about ending contractualization, as well as repealing the 12% Value Added Tax (VAT) due to the TRAIN law. He will also push for a national minimum wage policy in addition to pushing for pension hike policies.

Alunan also expressed his platform as having multiple features and championed the tagline, “Build the nation, protect the people, secure the country, sustain the effort.” His legislations would then venture into education reforms and curriculum adjustments, and values reforms in the family and even on change the criminal justice system.

“Yes or no” highlights

Among the yes or no questions raised in the forum, he senatoriables unanimously answered with a yes for inquiries about the legalization of divorce on grounds of abuse and irreconcilable differences, as well as the legalization of medical marijuana for illnesses like cancer and chronic pain.

Asked about the reconstitution of death penalty for drug-related crimes, Alunan deviated from the rest of the candidates to lift his yes card.

Together with Roque, Alunan also stood out from the rest when the polls on the public release of government officials’ medical records and the existence of threat toward media practitioners were raised. Both disagreed to such questions while the remaining five candidates all agreed.

Additionally, as one of the most recent and historic political milestones in the county, the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law by 1,540,017 voters from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was also tackled in the forum. The senate bets were asked if the BOL would result to the lasting peace in Mindanao, of which all except Colmenares said yes to.

On the necessity of martial law and Federalism

Moderators mentioned during the event that one main area of contentions in the Duterte administration is whether or not martial law is justified in Mindanao.

Gutoc and Hilbay stood firmly that it is not justified.  Gutoc explained that it has only led to invasion and lawless rebellion. She encouraged the strengthening of peacekeeping measures instead of “uncalled for martial law.”

Hilbay likewise supported these statements. He reiterated that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) themselves said “they didn’t need martial law.”

“Hindi natin kailangan ng batas militar and it doesn’t demean the powers of the President to use the AFP,” he insisted.

(We don’t need martial law, and it doesn’t demean the powers of the President to use the AFP.)

In contrast, Alunan argued that martial law is favored by people of Mindanao, to which he received a mixed reaction from the audience.

“Mindanao still has threats of terrorism, insurgency, and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-related organizations,” Alunan explained further, citing incidents of bombings in Jolo  and Marawi as examples.

Alunan maintained, “The important thing is that the martial law in Mindanao is not the same as the Martial law of Marcos era.”

Moreover, when asked about his stance on the Duterte administration’s campaign for a federal government, Hilbay attested that it has been about two years since he started expressed his disagreement on federalism through his lectures.

He noted that the cost of the transition is unreasonable since federalism will not really minimize political agendas but rather propagate more political noise.

Violence and criminality

The recurring issue of lowering the age of criminal liability the Philippines was also brought up in the event. At present, the minimum age for social responsibility in the country is 15.

Roque sided against lowering it to nine years old. According to him, there are scientific studies that brain is not yet fully developed at that time. He believes, however, that lowering it to 12 was the most appropriate course of action.

“Perhaps it should not be 9, but not as late as 14 [either],” Roque maintained.

Roxas on the other hand believes that it should instead be 18, which is the age at which certain social activities such as purchasing of cigarettes and alcohol are considered legal.

“The law as it exists right now has not worked to its full extent,” he said.

Alunan did not give a direct answer but rather stated that the most essential part of the problem was preventing minors from engaging in such criminal acts.

“The important thing is for the parents to be protecting their young and making sure they do not get into trouble,” he added.

Alunan also reminded the public about the civil society organizations (CSO)’s role in helping governments citing Balai Pag-asa, a rehabilitation center for the youth,  as an example of a CSO and the government working together.

When asked by a member of the audience on what the senatoriables would do to solve the country’s drug problems, Roxas said that the ones often targeted are only the low-level criminals.

“Lahat ng mga [ina]aresto, naka-tsinelas. Lahat ng mga [ina]aresto, mahirap. Lahat ng mga [ina]aresto, low-level crimes,” Roxas stated.

(All those being arrested are wearing slippers. All those being arrested are poor. All those being arrested are involved in low-level crimes.)

Roxas said he will support the use of intelligence funds to hunt down the main players in the industry. As for those who are already heavily addicted to drugs, Roxas said he will provide them with the necessary support through their rehabilitation process.

Alunan explained that there is a “forest fire” of narco-politics in the country. To deal with it, he called for reform in the criminal justice system. According to him, there is a need to impose death penalty for drug related crimes, especially for syndicates.

“I would like to impose drug penalty to drug-related crimes especially against syndicates who undermine society and undermine the government,”Alunan expressed.

Furthermore, a volunteer from the audience voiced out an interesting inquiry on how Gutoc help create a safer county for Filipinas especially amidst cases of catcalling, physical, and even verbal harassment andrape.

Gutoc replied by saying that she wishes to pass laws that penalize catcalling, as well as rape jokes even when leaders themselves do so. Referring to the President’s inappropriate commentaries about women, Gutoc said “the Senate is in need of more pro-women candidates.”

On global affairs

Concerns involving international players including the growing influx of Chinese laborers, the implications of the Philippines versus China case on geopolitics, and the long ongoing debate over the country’s position on the West Philippine Sea were also brought up during the forum.

Hilbay asserted “the influx of Chinese labor is demeaning to Filipino workers,” and urged to address the corruption in the different parties involved with matter.

Alunan explained that there is an influx of Chinese workers especially in mining, construction, and online gambling  industries due to the porous borders given the Philippine’s geography.

“Our gatekeepers are easily bought,” Alunan asserted.

Roque expressed to train more for Filipinos for skilled labor yet allow some Chinese workers in the country if the need arises.

Roxas maintained a firm stance on condemning Chinese workers.

“Small scale and large scale [tasks], Filipinos can do it!”

Roxas also reminded that the economy should not depend on online gambling. He argued that the reason for Chinese online gambling enterprises in Philippines is because of the strict laws in China prohibiting such businesses.

Another question from the audience was brought up by an Ateneo graduate student regarding the implications of Philippines and China issue on geopolitics.

Hilbay contended that the administration made a mistake in their “180-degree turn” on its position. He insisted that it could have been a rules based platform to build a counter-force alliance with other member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and even the European Union against China which “disrespected international law.”

“When we fought for West Philippine sea everyone looked up to us. We fought in courts not in the battlefield,” he responded.

When questioned on thoughts whether the Philippines was asserting itself on the West Philippine Sea, Colmenares expressed his dismay stating, “Tayo ang nanalo, [pero] astang talo tayo sa Tsina.”

(We won the case yet we act like we’ve lost to China.)

On other issues

Meanwhile, the moderators also asked the candidates how they would stabilize the economy and address price inflation of commodities.

Gutoc answered that the creation of safeguards and cushions for poorest of the poor was the best way to attend to the matter.

On the other hand, both Tañada and Hilbay pinpointed that the root cause of inflation was the TRAIN Law. In accordance with this, Tañada said that he aims for the suspension of both 2018 and 2019 imposed excise taxes.

On the probe of how the senatorial bets plan to bring down the price of rice while protecting the livelihood of farmers, Colmenares said  that it is time to prioritize the agricultural sector and regulate cartels in rice industry.

Roque emphasized on the crucial role of the National Food Authority (NFA) in not only providing rice, but ensuring it is at an affordable price. He further condemned corruption within the system and said that the rule of law should prevail.

Roxas responded that doubling the income of farmers and increasing harvest by 30% was possible without increasing land, as this was already existing in the case of Negros Occidental, his hometown. He also stressed the need to better post-harvest facilities in the country.

Kilusang Mayo Uno, an independent labor center for progressive worker representation, also raised a question regarding the necessity of having a   national minimum wage.

Colmenares reasoned that he was not in favor of the regional wage board  because the inflation rate in many regions is practically higher than those in the capital.

Similarly, Roque and Tañada were in favor of nationalizing the minimum wage. Tañada also mentioned that a review of the wage structure in the country would be of help to the matter.

Furthermore, candidates were also asked about their proposed short-term and long-term solutions for the crippling traffic situation in the county, particularly in Metro Manila.

Colmenares said that the immediate improvement on mass public transport was the answer to the problem. He also  said that a long term solution was to decongest the Metro by utilizing the opportunities in countrysides.

Tañada agreed on the improvement of  public transportation. He suggested to lessen the number of  buses that go through Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) by making use of Point-to-point (P2P) buses or through having just one transport line in the country. As a long term solution, he once again called for the nationalization of standard wages.

Gutoc however, said that the problem would be solved if the government provided better job opportunities in provinces and decentralized locations of offices.

Apart from land traffic, the candidates were also tasked to present possible ways to eradicate air traffic congestion.

Colmenares said that the physical design of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) had an influence in the problem and that development was necessary. He also prompted to put up airports outside Manila as long as fast transportation to and from these airports are made accessible.

On the same matter, Gutoc said that air traffic management, especially during peak seasons and holidays, was also important in addressing airport traffic. He recommended expanding airports by placing them up in alternative locations.

Tañada brought up the need for political will in addressing the matter. Similar to Colmenares, he recommended working on accessible transportation to and from the airport.

Moderators informed the audience that although other senatorial candidates were invited, some of them had to decline due to conflicts with their personal schedules. More candidates are expected to attend the next and final CNN Senatorial Forum this April, just a month before the elections.

As of this writing, Roque has withdrawn his senate bid.