Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) News, a broadcasting network owned by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is currently wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for sex trafficking chrages, spearheaded the SMNI Presidential Debate 2022 on Feb. 15. The debate tackled the priority key programs of the candidates and their stance on major issues faced by the Philippines.
Four presidential candidates participated, namely former Undersecretary for Strategic Communications and Research of the Department of Foreign Affairs Ernesto “Ernie” Abella, labor leader Ka Leody De Guzman, former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, and former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
The debate officially commenced with the introduction of the candidates and their key priorities if they were to be elected as the next president.
According to De Guzman, he will prioritize the labor sector to expand the food production in the country, “Uunahin ko ang pagpapaunlad ng kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka, mangingisda at manggagawang bukid upang palakasin ang produksyon ng pagkain.”
Furthermore, he also aims to expand the manufacturing industry of the country as well as the problem in the health sector, “Tutugunin ko ang pangangailan at kahilingan ng ating mga healthcare [worker] [...] dagdag na sahod, benipisyo, at personnels.”
Meanwhile, Former Sec. Gonzales admitted it may not be feasible for a six-year term but he aims to make the Philippines a first-world country. “Sa loob ng anim na taon, ihahanda natin ang sambayanang Pilipino para ang ating direksyon ay patungo sa pagiging first-world,” he stated.
He shared that the first step of his administration is a political restructuring. It will include charter change, the possibility of a parliamentary system, and the federal system shift.
“Yung ibang problema, kung maganda ang liderato ng bansa, madami tayong magagawa,” Gonzales ended.
On the other hand, Marcos highlighted the importance of giving livelihoods to the affected sectors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sa tagal ng aking pag se-serbisyo, ngayon lang po ako nakakita ng ganitong crisis na hinaharap ng ating bansa. ‘Pag tinatanong ko sa taong bayan kung ano ang kanilang pangangailangan, ang laging sagot sa’kin ay trabaho,” he stated.
Among the sectors he aims to revamp are the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Agriculture, Tourism, and Digital Infrastructure.
Lastly, former Sec. Abella highlighted three goals of his administration, namely Patas na bayan, Gobyerno na darama, and Matatag na bayan. He also aims to make the agricultural sector a mega industry and to activate civil society.
“I-balanse po natin ang power between government and big business through the effective use of civil society,” Abella said.
In realizing the Matatag na bayan goal, he aims to strengthen the national identity, especially for the youth, “confident national identity [ang gagawin] para paigtingin ang pagmamahal sa bayan, lalo na ng mga kabataan. [There will be a] national volunteer core for ages 18-35,” he stated.
The stance and plans of the next President
The Presidential aspirants faced the four-person panel in a question and answer portion featuring Political Scientist and University of the Philippines Professor Clarita Carlos, Former Iloilo Vice Governor and Congressman Atty. Rolex Suplico, SMNI Senior Correspondent and Anchor MJ Mondejar, and Manila Times CEO and President Dante Ang II as panelists.
Prof. Carlos opened the segment with a topic on foreign policy, asking the candidates if they will partake in the quad alliance once elected. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is an informal economic and security alliance between the United States, India, Australia and Japan designed to counter China on its rising dominance in the Asia-Pacific region.
Former Sec. Gonzales agrees for the country to be part of the alliance, “we will always be part of arrangements like that as it is important [para] may kasama tayo ‘pag may hinaharap tayong problema.”
Meanwhile, former Sec. Abella said otherwise and highlighted the importance of sovereignty and the balance of the relationship between the two great powers, specifically the United States and China, “we can retain relationships with them, but not to join [the alliance].”
On the other hand, former Sen. Marcos stayed in the middle as the advantage the country could get from the alliance had to be identified first, “the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is in a hotspot in geopolitics right now. We still have to find our own line in terms of all these arrangements [alliances] [...] the one certain principle is that we will not cede one square-inch of the Philippines to any country.”
De Guzman, on the other hand, firmly disapproves of partaking in the alliance.
“Para sa’kin, [dapat] maiwasan ang pakikipag-isa [rito] sa mga malalaking bansa sa daigdig na ang relasyon ay gagawin tayong pawn lang sa kanilang labanan,” De Guzman said, emphasizing that he aims to non-align with big and capitalist countries such as China and the United States and to strengthen relationships with Southeast Asian countries.
SALN release and WPS dispute
In line with the continuous governmental problem of corruption, Atty. Suplico asked the aspirants if they agree to publicly release their Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) if they were to be elected. While most aspirants agreed to publicly release their respective SALNs, former Sec. Gonzales aims to do this in the entire country for easier collection of taxes and former Sen. Marcos stated he will release his SALN if the public asked for it.
“Hindi problema sa'kin 'yon [na ilabas ang SALN]. Hindi lang ako nagsusulat ng SALN for the past six years pero kung palarin sa darating na halalan, natural gagawan ng SALN at ito ay ibibigay ko sa publiko pag hihingiin sa'kin,” Former Sen. Marcos stated, contradicting his first stance on publicized SALNs in an interview in January with selected media where he previously disagreed with the idea as according to him, not everyone should know the details on public officials’ wealth.
Moreover, Ang II’s question highlighted how the aspirants will protect Filipino fisherfolk amid the ongoing dispute in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Former Sec. Abella aims to reach an economic and diplomatic agreement with competing countries through ASEAN-China Code of Conduct to protect the interests of Filipino fisherfolks in WPS, “we seek to provide as much support to our fisherfolks [...] we’re setting up a board of agricultural investments which could probably bridge conversation with these competing interests.”
Meanwhile, De Guzman aims to utilize the country’s win in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and to put economic pressure on China to protect Filipino fisherfolks; De Guzman also aims to convert the WPS to a peace zone, “gamitin natin ang panalo natin sa international tribunal at kakampi natin dito ang mga bansang hinaharas ng China [rito] sa Southeast Asia para itulak ‘yung mga bansang signatory sa UNCLOS upang sawayin [ang China] sa ginagawang panghaharas sa ating mga mangingisda.”
Former. Sec. Gonzales aimed for a short-term solution by giving help to fisherfolks in the meantime while the government strategized and examined the dispute in the said territory.
“Kailangan suriin natin nang mabuti ang sigalot sa WPS [...] ‘wag natin ipatong sa balikat ng mga maliliit [na mangingisda] ang malaking problemang hinaharap ng ating bansa,” Former Sec. Gonzales stated.
Meanwhile, Former Sen. Marcos prioritized helping Filipino fisherfolks to freely get back in fishing in the territory and aims to seek assistance from international and regional organizations. He also aims to reach a bilateral agreement between the country and China in its claim in the WPS.
“Siguro naman maipapaliwanag natin sa Tsina na ang mga bangka ay hindi military threat [...] kung maulit man ang nangyari noon, magpadala tayo ng navy para may presence of the State,” Former Sen. Marcos said.
On food security
To answer Mondejar’s question in line with the rising price of staple food, De Guzman emphasized once again his key priority in crafting a roadmap in further developing the agriculture sector and eliminating the Rice Tariffication Law.
“Mag-invest tayo sa research and development para mas higit pang paramihin ang huli ng mga mangingisda at hindi tayo dapat mag-iimport ng mga sibuyas, bawang, at galunggong gayong napaka-agrikultural ng ating bansa,” De Guzman stated.
Former Sec. Gonzales also aims to further develop the agriculture sector to ensure food security among Filipinos and address the problems on the Law of Agrarian Reforms, “pagyayamanin natin ang pagtatanim sa bukid at sa karagatan [...] these things are known by our technical people in the Department of Agriculture (DA).”
Meanwhile, Former Sen. Marcos cited the country’s lack of preparedness for the global pandemic as the country strongly relies on importation. He then agreed with De Guzman on the importance of Research and Development to address the issue of food security.
“Lalo na at may climate change, may mga [variety] ng palay, dapat pag-aralan natin para mas maganda ang magiging ani [...] Kung ang gobyerno ang humahawak sa buong produksyon, kung ang linya ng produksyon hanggang sa pagbenta sa retail, ang gobyerno ay hindi dapat kumita, kaya maipagbibili ito ng mas mura,” he stated.
Former Sec. Abella emphasized on building a board of agricultural investments which aims to work closely with the DA where both sectors work on the entrepreneurial and technical aspects respectively, “ang plano talaga natin ay gawing mega industry ang agrikultura,” he stated, citing that the funding will come from the country’s 1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
On terrorism
Vilma Absalon, the mother of Keith Absalon who was allegedly killed by the New People’s Army (NPA), asked the candidates about their plans on ending terrorism in the country.
“Ang unang responsibilidad ng kahit sino na elected officials sa aming pagsusumpa is to defend and protect the constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and that includes the protection of the people and the Republic,” Former Sen. Marcos said to answer Absalon’s question emphasizing that his administration will continue with peace talks until they reach an agreement.
With the same sentiments, Former Sec. Abella also aims to focus on localized negotiations on the ground and the continuous works of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
While De Guzman also shared the same sentiments on negotiations and peace talks, he also added that the uprisings against the government are due to injustices, “i-recognize natin na merong rebolusyon dito sa ating bansa, at mga pag aalsa na resulta ng inhustisya dito sa ating bansa.”
Meanwhile, Former Sec. Gonzales aims to implement a law criminalizing rebellion while pursuing peace talks; Furthermore, he encourages the communists to identify themselves and to eliminate the usage of violence.
Like the US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the country, Russia also aims to establish a Forces Agreement with the Philippines, Prof. Carlos once again asked the candidates about their stance on this foreign policy issue.
Former Sec. Gonzales neither agreed or disagreed as he aims to have preliminary talks with Russia first to examine if the system is fit for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Sharing the same sentiments, Former Sen. Marcos also agreed to look into the status first of the Forces Agreement and what it entails for both countries.
Meanwhile, Former Sec. Abella aims to calibrate the response of the country in line with the foreign policy issue and development, “we need to continue to develop our own internal capability so we can maintain our independent foreign policy [...] at this stage perhaps we could develop [more of naval] capabilities.”
De Guzman firmly believes that the country should be independent in its foreign policy endeavors. Instead, the most pressing issue that should be focused on is climate change and hunger rather than enhancing the military.
“Wag na tayo makisangkot diyan, hindi na natin kaya makipagsabayan, malayo na tayo sa kanila. ‘Yung giyera wala tayong mapapala diyan, ang makikinabang lang diyan ay ang mga korporasyon ng mga gumagawa ng bala at armas,” De Guzman stated.
Moreover, on Atty. Suplico’s question on the candidate’s spendings on campaigning, all candidates disclosed that most of their campaign materials are from volunteers. Meanwhile, Former Sen. Marcos and Former Sec. Abella are yet to disclose a total amount of their spending as it will be done by the end of the campaign period.
Meanwhile, De Guzman and Former Sec. Gonzales shares the same sentiment that the government should be spending on the campaign of candidates.
“Dapat ang gumagastos sa pagpapakilala ng mga pulitikong tumatakbo ay ang gobyerno dahil gobyerno naman ang nag hahanap ng tamang lider na pu-pwesto sa pamahalaan,” De Guzman stated.
However, according to Prof. Carlos, the system proposed by both candidates will only be possible under a parliamentary system.
On the Philippine education system
Moreover, Former Sec. Abella stated that the educational system is a top priority under his administration following the question of Ang II on the problems faced by the current educational system of the country.
Meanwhile, De Guzman cited that the government must take the biggest responsibility in the country’s education system, “‘yung responsibilidad ng gobyerno dapat itaas at akuin ang responsibilidad na tiyakin na ang edukasyon natin ay nabibigyan ng prioridad.”
Meanwhile Former Sec. Gonzales stated that equality in the education system is part of his plans if he were to be elected, “there will be a common standard for all, there will be the same kind of education for all whether you are rich or poor.”
Meanwhile, Former Sen. Marcos prioritizes fixing and strengthening the public school system.
“Unang-una, suportahan natin ang mga guro na sapat ang kanilang sahod at hindi late dumadating [...] at maibigay sakanila ang benipisyong nasa batas,” Former Sen. Marcos stated further citing the improvement of school facilities.
For the last panelist to ask a question, Mondejar asked the candidates about their stance and plans to support senior citizens.
De Guzman and Former Sec. Gonzales aim to allow senior citizens to work beyond their retirements and to give further health benefits aside from their pensions.
Moreover, Former Sen. Marcos aims for the health insurance of senior citizens to be included in their respective pensions, and to eliminate age discrimination among senior citizens.
Lastly, Former Sec. Abella named a program “Golden Years” where he aims to support senior citizens by providing them with healthcare, getting them continuously involved in society, and granting them economic support.
On Indigenous Peoples
To answer Mondejar’s question on Indigenous Peoples (IP), In line with Former Sec. Gonzales’ platform to have autonomous regions, he aims to give voices to the IPs through this platform.
“Kailangan meron silang sariling lugar kung saan makikita ang yaman ng kanilang kultura, heritage, at mga issue nila ay dapat tinitignan na hiwalay [...] sa ganitong paraan magkakaroon ng identity ang ating mga IPs at matutugunan ang kanilang problema,” Former Sec. Gonzales stated.
Meanwhile, Former Sen. Marcos first aims to identify the ancestral domain of IPs and must be acknowledged by the government and the law.
Sharing the same sentiments with Former Sen. Marcos, Former Sec. Abella also added that IPs should be supported in developing their lands and livelihoods and preserving their cultural heritage.
De Guzman, meanwhile, emphasized that landgrabbers should be eliminated and agreed to have a specific agency to protect the IPs.
“Kailangan natin tulungan na maproteksyunan ang kanilang kabuhayan at ang buong komunidad na kanilang pinagyaman sa mahabang panahon at suportahan ito ng gobyerno,” De Guzman stated.
The SMNI Presidential Debate 2022 was wrapped up after three rounds of panel debates and another round was scheduled on March 26 after SMNI cancelled the Vice Presidential Debate 2022 to make way for the Presidential Debate 2022 final round.
