Platforms, plans in debate

Confrontation toned down

MANILA, Philippines – This time, the fireworks were toned down.

Campaign platforms as well as issues close to voters were highlighted at yesterday’s debate in Pangasinan where the five presidential candidates faced off for the last time before the elections.

The third and last debate had a “town hall” format wherein questions were posed by ordinary individuals, including a fisherman whose daily catch has been dwindling due to Chinese harassment, a debt-burdened overseas Filipino worker, and an employee stressed by the daily traffic.

The contenders were made to ask their rivals questions in the second part of the event, which started with Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II asking Vice President Jejomar Binay to answer once and for all the various corruption allegations against him and his family.

Binay, who said he had answered all the accusations against him, proceeded instead to outline some of his programs.

In turn he asked Sen. Grace Poe about her citizenship; she asked Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to explain his stand on women, while he asked Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago about her health. Santiago asked Roxas to detail his qualifications for the presidency.

Roxas repeated his question to Binay but the Vice President responded by saying that he believes the electorate trusts him and will make him win on May 9.

Roxas also argued with Duterte over the PhilHealth for the poor. Duterte strongly disputed Roxas’ claims that the administration extended health insurance for the poor in Davao City.

“Tomorrow, at 8 in the morning, I’ll furnish you with a list of those who got assistance from PhilHealth, when I prove that — they’re in the thousands — will you withdraw from the race?” Roxas asked his rival.

The tough-talking mayor retorted by saying Roxas, just like the Aquino administration, is good only in making promises but has nothing to show for it.

“The whole Filipino nation is watching, if they believe you, why are you low in the ratings?” Duterte said.

Political science professor Edmund Tayao of the University of Santo Tomas said last night’s debates was crucial as no presidential candidate can confidently claim victory in the May 9 elections.

Tayao said the undecided voters, which some presidential contenders estimate at over 20 percent, will make a decision on who to vote partly on what they have seen in the debates.

“This debate is very important because in the recent surveys, even if it appears that we have a frontrunner, the race is still tight,” Tayao told The STAR.

He said while the rankings in the presidential polls have not changed much in the past weeks, the percentages obtained by the candidates have been changing.

He recalled Duterte’s ratings plunged overnight after he cursed Pope Francis for the traffic during his visit to the country.

An end to ‘endo’

The candidates also vowed to put an end to labor contractualization in the country, calling it a violation of the Constitution and of workers’ rights.

Duterte and Roxas II promised to push for a bill that would prohibit the practice, popularly called “endo,” a shortened term for end of contract.

Sen. Grace Poe, for her part, said labor contractualization is an “injustice” that brings anxiety to workers. She believes the problems caused by “endo” can be resolved by giving more incentives to employers.

“Incentives should be given to owners of businesses. Since they are afraid of losing profits, I will ensure that their corporate income tax will be lower. We have to support those who are setting up businesses in our country,” Poe said.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago is also in favor of reducing the corporate income tax.

“I’m in favor of a lower income and corporate income tax,” she added.

Santiago also cited the need to create new jobs and to invest in agriculture modernization and in infrastructure.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, for his part, said he would support the scrapping of income tax for those who are earning 10,000 and below per month.

“Endo is prohibited but the prohibition against it is not being enforced. All workers should be protected at all times because that is what is provided for by the law,” Binay said.

Some companies are hesitant to regularize their employees because it would require them to provide overtime and holiday pay, 13th-month pay and social security benefits.

(Clockwise from top left) Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and his running mate Alan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Grace Poe, former interior secretary Manuel Roxas II and his wife Korina, and Vice President Jejomar Binay wave to supporters upon arrival at the University of Pangasinan in Dagupan City for the third and last presidential debate yesterday. KJ ROSALES, EC TOLEDO

Solving traffic woes

The candidates also laid out their plans to address the worsening traffic problems in Metro Manila, including the appointment of a “traffic terminator,” and creation of an “alternative city.”

All five presidential candidates agreed that the best way to ease the traffic congestion in the capital is to improve the mass transit system, specifically the need to build new railways that will connect Metro Manila to nearby provinces.

Sen. Poe said she would appoint a “traffic terminator” who has experience in transportation. “All traffic plans should be implemented,” Poe said. “Our roads are not our personal parking lots.”

Santiago batted for the creation of an alternative city near Clark Free Port in Pampanga “so we can have freedom from congestion. She also said the next president must appeal for discipline among motorists.

“We should ask LTO (Land Transportation Office) to make sure those who will get licenses are qualified persons, there are ways to solve traffic problem there is no need to despair,” she said.

Binay, meanwhile, reiterated his plan to split the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) into two departments, which Roxas countered.

Roxas said he would “re-merge” the DOTC and the Department of Public Works and Highways to make the construction of roads and management of traffic coherent.

Duterte, along with Binay, Poe, and Santiago, pushed for the construction of new railway system.

“The mass transit system (is) the solution. Nothing else can solve the problem,” Duterte said.

On the West Philippine Sea

The five presidential candidates also echoed the current administration’s move to pursue arbitration proceedings to resolve the conflict with China regarding the West Philippine Sea.

They also batted for the need to make sure that every Filipino fisherman is given enough resources to also allow him to support his family.

They responded to a concern by a local fisherman at the last presidential debate.

Binay, Roxas, Poe, Santiago and Duterte weighed the need to act on the issue on the diplomatic front, address livelihood of affected fishermen and strengthen the country’s defense system.

Poe batted for the need to provide proper radio transmitter and equipment to local fishermen. “(The West Philippine Sea) is not a personal aquarium of the Chinese,” she said.

Santiago said she will employ the Coast Guard to bomb the Chinese fishermen if their fishermen would continue fishing in our territory, eliciting cheers from the crowd.

“We have world public opinion behind us. The whole world believes that (the West Philippine Sea) is our territory,” she said.

For his part, Duterte also supported the move to bring the issue for arbitration, referring to the case filed by the Philippines before the United Nations.

But if China refuses to recognize a favorable decision for the Philippines, Duterte said he is willing to go via jet ski to the Scarborough Shoal area now being developed by China, and personally declare Philippine sovereignty there.

“You know, it has long been my ambition to become a hero. So if I get killed here, it’s up to you to weep for me here,” Duterte said.

Artful dodgers

Unlike in previous debates, candidates for the highest post in the land dodged heated exchanges even as they were given opportunities to face off with their rivals for the last time.

Roxas urged Binay to explain charges of corruption against him, which the latter dismissed.

Responding on the follow-up question of Roxas on the matter of trust and integrity, the vice president said the public has never lost trust in him and reiterated that he will win in this elections.

Poe, meanwhile, asked Duterte on his position about women’s rights, noting his recent “rape joke” that received criticisms from various sectors.

In response, Duterte maintained that Davao City under his leadership has passed measures that protect women.

He also stressed that the “rape joke” statement was a pure narration of events.

Duterte, who praised Santiago for her intellect and experience, asked the senator how she was.

“I am back to my normal, good health,” said the senator, who had to take leave from the campaign last month to undergo clinical trial of an anti-cancer medicine which she said has been effective.

Noting the black propaganda over her health, Santiago maintained that she has been open with her condition ever since she was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.

During their face-off, Santiago asked Roxas to cite examples on how he can prove his academic record, professional experience, and integrity.

Roxas said he has graduated from Wharton Business School, one of the best in the US, to prove his academic competence. He also said Santiago is in a better position to judge his professional capability, noting their experience of working together in the Senate.

The administration bet also vouched for his moral integrity as his name has never been tainted in his 23 years of service.

Political science professor Edmund Tayao of the University of Santo Tomas said last night’s debates was crucial as no presidential candidate can confidently claim victory in the May 9 elections.

Tayao said the undecided voters, which some presidential contenders estimate at over 20 percent, will make a decision on who to vote partly on what they have seen in the debates.

“This debate is very important because in the recent surveys, even if it appears that we have a frontrunner, the race is still tight,” Tayao told The STAR.

He recalled Duterte’s ratings plunged overnight after he cursed Pope Francis for the traffic during his visit to the country.

The debate, organized by the Commission on Elections, was hosted by ABS-CBN and the Manila Bulletin. TV-5 and The STAR hosted the second debate in Cebu. The first, in Mindanao, was hosted by GMA 7 and the Philippine Daily Inquirer. – with Alexis Romero, Helen Flores, Janvic Mateo, Christina Mendez, Robertzon Ramirez