Karen asks issue-based questions in Headstart

MANILA, Philippines - The Hot Copy segment on ANC’s Headstart with Karen Davila has produced some of the most controversial interviews that have set the news agenda in the election campaign season amid all the political noise and talk. In it, we saw candidates like we’ve never seen them before — unguarded — with no clock ticking to limit their answers.

It was in the program where Rep. Jack Enrile spoke about the controversial killings he is associated with, where Loren Legarda declared she wouldn’t run for president or vice president and discussed her love life, and where Sen. Koko Pimentel revealed he and her estranged wife are trying to save their marriage. Hot Copy also unmasked the other side of the candidates such as Jamby Madrigal, Miguel Zubiri, and Grace Poe-Llamanzares who were brought to tears as they answered questions regarding their families, and Baldomero Falcone and Tingting Cojuangco who were caught in light-hearted moments.

Headstart’s Hot Copy also comes off as refreshing amongst a slew of TV interviews of senatorial candidates, thanks to Davila’s no-holds-barred interview approach that dabbles between the personal and the political. Although Davila finds it more important to ask issue-based questions, she puts a special emphasis on probing the details of candidates’ private lives. And for good reason. 

“When you vote for someone in public office, you are voting for the person. There are qualities that you look for. Are they smart enough? Are they calm, patient, honest? Do they have a likeable character? Are they firm? Whatever it is you’re looking for, you catch all of those in personal questions,” Davila said.

Davila admitted she threw hard questions at candidates that made them uneasy and angry, or lightened up from relationships, sexuality, career and the controversial points in their track record.

Since the start of the official campaign season, the program had as guests senatorial candidates Samson Alcantara, Rep. Sonny Angara, Bam Aquino, Greco Belgica, Rep. Teddy Casiño, Alan Peter Cayetano, Tingting Cojuangco, Rizalito David, JC de los Reyes, Rep. Jack Enrile, Sen. Chiz Escudero, Mayor Edward Hagedorn, Grace Poe-Llamanzares, lawyer Marwil Llasos, Sen. Loren Legarda, Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Ramon Montano, Baldomero Falcone, Risa Hontiveros, Jamby Madrigal, Ernesto Maceda, Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Cynthia Villar and Miguel Zubiri.