Opening salvo: Bets slug it out

MANILA, Philippines – All the five presidential candidates showed up and kept to their allotted times as they expounded on their platforms and traded punches yesterday  in the first of a series of debates.  organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) held at Cagayan de Oro City yesterday.

The five candidates – Vice President Jejomar Binay, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Grace Poe and administration bet Manuel Roxas II – spelled out their platforms of government if elected president on May 9.

They repeated their spiels on the first day of the official campaign period. Binay harped on leadership and his performance particularly as mayor of Makati. Duterte vowed to stamp out criminality within six months of becoming president. Santiago urged the electorate to vote for competence and look at her credentials. Poe promised a compassionate presidency, while Roxas promised to sustain the reforms of the Aquino administration’s tuwid na daan or straight path.

Despite limited time, they also addressed issues raised against them during the two-hour debate in Cagayan de Oro organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Binay faced corruption issues and explained his position on dynasties. Duterte was unapologetic about his human rights record. Santiago, a cancer survivor, said she has recovered and has a right to seek the presidency. Poe defended herself from criticisms that she lacked experience, while Roxas fended off criticisms of incompetence and indecision.

The issues also popped up as the candidates faced off.

Duterte and Santiago appeared to agree on several issues. The Davao mayor described Santiago as “one of the two” candidates qualified to run as president.

Duterte also refused to rebut Defensor’s remarks on her health status.

“I will not go into an argument or debate with Ma’am Miriam, she is telling you the truth and truth is very important. I do not see Senator Santiago passing away within the next 20 years. So, what is the problem?” Duterte said.

“It is my right. In our Constitution, there is no provision that if you’re sick of something, you’re disqualified,” Santiago replied, referring to her late-stage lung cancer.

“I was at the height of cancer. Stage 4. Stage 4 is the last stage. I was just waiting to die but my guardian angel did not allow that,” she said.  

Santiago defended Duterte, saying the Davao mayor was able to stop the endemic graft and corruption in the local government that everybody has spoken.

“I felt sorry for my country because graft and corruption is endemic and everybody speaks out, but nobody has done very much except Mayor Rody Duterte,” Santiago said.

Duterte slammed Roxas for parroting the “Matuwid na Daan” policy of the Aquino administration, describing it in Filipino as “puro kulubot iyan (crooked),” thus eliciting laughter from the audience.

On the issue of infrastructure development in Mindanao, Duterte said it was lacking because of the neglect of the Aquino administration.

All the five candidates spelled out their platforms of government during the two-hour debate hosted by GMA-7 and Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Poe said she will allocate 30 percent of the national budget for the improvement of Mindanao if she is elected president.

She also said she will allow freedom of information as her first executive order.

Binay, who had served in the Cabinet of President Aquino, reiterated his earlier criticisms against the administration and promised to correct the mistakes of the government.

He said the current underspending of the administration, which he described as “analysis paralysis” has delayed the implementation of vital projects of the government.

Binay focused on Roxas in saying the former interior secretary mishandled the relief and rescue operations of the victims of Typhoon Yolanda in Leyte in 2013.

“If your were referring to me as the one who rode in a helicopter, I’ve witnessed a lot, but where were you then? The people of Leyte are so mad at you,” he told Roxas.

Binay also slugged it out with Roxas during the discussion on how to fight and eradicate the problem of illegal drugs.

Binay boasted about the anti-illegal drug campaign he waged in Makati City when he served as mayor of the country’s financial capital.

Roxas, however, countered by saying Makati City has the highest illegal drug rate in the country and there are many poor people as well.

Roxas made the opening statement that he is qualified to run the country based on his competence and trustworthiness, comparing himself to a driver steering the vehicle to a safe destination.

“Who are you going to entrust the safety of your children? Is it to somebody with many corruption cases?” Roxas said in apparent reference to Binay facing allegations of corruption.

Roxas also took a swipe at Poe, whom he scored for her lack of experience

“My apologies for Senator Poe, being a president is not an OJT (on the job training,” he said.

Poe, for her part, countered by pointing out the problems of the government agencies that Roxas had handled.

During the debates, Binay maintained during the debates that he had nothing to hide.

He also traded barbs with Santiago on the issue of political dynasty.

Binay said there should be no prohibition against anyone who wants to run for office as long as they are elected in honest and clean elections.

Santiago, however, said Binay’s position is wrong and should not be accepted, pointing out the anti-dynasty provision in the Constitution.

Santiago also noted the promises made by her rivals, saying they are “promises in the sky.”

Regarding the issues in Mindanao, only two candidates – Duterte and Santiago – fared well in answering the questions based on the reaction of the viewers of GMA-7 during the debates. Binay was the least liked, based on the “emoticons” posted by readers of GMA-7 news online website. – Edith Regalado, Robertzon Ramirez, Helen Flores, Rainier Allan Ronda, Gerry Lee Gorit, Paolo Romero, Jose Rodel Clapano