Get to Know the Country’s Presidential Candidates

Get to Know the Country’s Presidential Candidates

The race is on for the country’s next leader.

Curious about the men and women vying to be the country’s chief executive? As you may already know by now, election in the Philippines is not complete without controversies and drama. And since most of the info we have about them come from their own political ads or media reports, it’s good to know some basic important things about them on neutral ground.

Let’s get to know some of them in this quick review of their background and career highlights.

JEJOMAR BINAY

Name: Jejomar “Jojo” Binay

Current position: Vice President of the Philippines

Career highlights/achievements:

— Headed the Task Force OFW which gave assistance to OFW’s maltreated by their employees

— Served as Makati mayor for a total of 21 years

— Active role in the defense of the Constitution during Corazon Aquino’s administration among others

Issues associated with:

— Faces numerous graft and corruption allegations and charges including that of ghost employees on city payroll, overpriced Makati City Parking Building, withholding of city employee’s taxes worth P1.1 billion from 1999-2002, large estates whose ownership he denies, and others

— Political dynasty in Makati

Platform:

— Creation of the Department of Information Technology

— Lowering of income and corporate taxes

— Scholarship fund boost

His words:

“The moral problem actually is not corruption, the moral problem is poverty. That is what I have to face, not a fight against all these allegations but a fight to alleviate poverty in the life of every Filipino.”

Party: United Nationalist Alliance (UNA)

Running mate: Sen. Gringo Honasan

 

MIRIAM DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO

Name: Miriam Defensor-Santiago

Current position: Senator

Career highlights/achievements:

— Has served in all three branches in the government: executive, legislative, and judicial.

— First Filipina and first Asian to be elected as judge in the International Criminal Court.

— Filed the highest number of bills (549) and 211 resolutions focusing on Human Rights, Governance, Youth and Women, Education, Health and Safety

Issues associated with:

— Stirred controversy by calling the prosecutors “fools” in the 2012 impeachment trial of Chief Justice Corona

— Health issue (Santiago was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer but has then announced that it is now controlled.)

Platform:

— Continued economic growth

— Continue the government’s cash transfer program with adjustment

— Support Priority Development Assistance Program and Disbursement Acceleration Program

Her words: “I always put myself in harm’s way because that is where I am most effective.”

Party: People’s Reform Party

Running mate: Sen. Bongbong Marcos

 

RODRIGO DUTERTE

Name: Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte

Current position: Incumbent Davao City Mayor

Career highlights/achievements:

— City Mayor when Davao was hailed as a hall of famer for Most Outstanding Local Government Unit of the Highly Urbanized City category by the National Literacy Awards

— Helped pass an Anti-Discrimination ordinance in Davao City prohibiting discrimination against the LGBT and minority groups.

— Enacted city ordinances such as Anti-Smoking ordinance, Liquor ban, Firecracker ban, Videoke limit, and Speed Limit among others

Issues associated with:

— Criticized by human rights groups for tolerating extrajudicial killings of suspected criminals allegedly by the Davao death squads

Platform:

— Implementation of Curfew Law

— Proposal of partnership with private sector

— Peace and order

His words: “A leader who is a terror to few who are evil in order to protect the lives and well-being of the many who are good.”

Party: PDP-Laban

Running mate: Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano

 

GRACE POE

Name: Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares

Current position: Senator

Career highlights/achievements:

— Served as chairperson of the MTRCB (Movie and TV Review and Classification Board)

— Marshalled the passing in the Senate of the People’s Freedom of Information Act

— Topped the 2013 senatorial race; Chair of public services sub-committees (peace and order, public information and mass media)

Issues associated with:

— Disqualification to run for presidency because of citizenship issues

Platform:

— Shall prioritize the Freedom of Information Bill

— New Anti-Red Tape act

Her words: “I believe the masa (masses) is not dumb. Ang Pilipino ay hindi tanga.“ (Filipinos are not fools.)

*disqualification is on appeal

Party: Independent

Running mate: Sen. Francis Escudero

 

MAR ROXAS

Name: Manuel “Mar” Roxas

Current position: Secretary of Interior and Local Government

Career highlights/achievements:

— Department of Trade and Industry Secretary who brought the IT-BPO industry in the Philippines

— Lobbied for the enactment of the Cheaper Medicines Law

— When he was DILG Secretary, he spearheaded drastic programs that resulted to 65% crime reduction in NCR

Issues associated with:

— Alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam (P5M given to questionable NGO) according to COA reports

Platform:

— Continuity of Good governance

— Anti-crime, Disaster management, and Local Government plans for 2016

His words: “Regardless of the statistics, one person wrongfully accused is one case too many.”

Party: Liberal Party

Running mate: Cong. Leni Robredo