CNNPH VP Debate 2022 Highlights: Candidates respond to key issues, answer controversies, lay platforms
by Russel Joy Burdeos and Joe Anthony Manzano
Seven (7) out of the nine (9) vice presidential candidates tried to persuade the Filipinos to vote them in the upcoming May 2022 elections as they shared their stances on current national and international issues, responses to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, and explanations to controversies they are involved with during the CNN Philippines Vice Presidential Debates held at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, on February 26.
The vice presidential aspirants present during the event were former party-list congressman and UP professor Walden Bello, radio commentator Rizalito David, economist Manny Lopez, cardiologist Willie Ong, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, lawyer Carlos Serapio, and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza was unable to attend due to a knee surgery, while Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte did not provide a specific reason.
Opening Statement: VP bets on their desired cabinet position
In their opening statements, each of the candidates shared their preferred cabinet position if successfully elected. According to the 1987 Constitution, the president has the prerogative to appoint the vice president to a cabinet position.
Bello expressed his desire to be appointed in the Department of Finance, and expounded on his and presidential running mate Leody De Guzman’s plan to legislate job security and increase minimum wage.
As for David, he wants to create a commission for moral renewal and cultural restoration.
Lopez believed that economic recovery should be prioritized and aims to be appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). He proposed a comprehensive three-pronged agenda composed of a new omnibus investment code, legal frameworks for micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) recovery, and provision of low interest loans.
Ong stated that he would agree on whatever cabinet position the elected president decides to appoint him to. Moreover, he emphasized that there is a division of labor between him and running mate Mayor Isko Moreno, with him focusing on public health matters.
Pangilinan emphasized his preference to be assigned to departments focusing on agriculture and fishing. He vowed to address problems such as hunger and rising food prices, as well as to focus on helping farmers and fishermen.
Serapio prefers to be assigned in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) due to his academic background and experience in backchanneling. He further stressed that it is now time to change the country’s political system, and it is paramount that neighboring countries will be able to understand the induced change to the system.
Meanwhile, Sotto has his sights on the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). He plans to fully implement the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 to focus on demand reduction strategy which he believes is necessary to completely implement the law.
Candidates present concrete plans in preparation for future health crises
Sotto explained the need to emphasize “treatment, prevention, prophylaxis” to combat future pandemics. He also called out the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to hasten the approval of prophylactic medications without compromising quality and safety.
Lopez expressed the need to address health crises beyond political interests.
For David, a science-based approach is necessary to limit restrictions and lockdowns. He emphasized the role of scientists in the government and the consensus of the people in policy-making.
VP bets share solutions amidst rising oil prices, plans against corruption
David mentioned his proposal to President Rodrigo Duterte, which was to suspend the excise tax on fuel. Ong supported the idea but specified a 50% cut on fuel taxes, which along with running mate Isko Moreno, had been advocating for since the start of the campaign period.
Bello expressed his support to repeal the Oil Deregulation Law while emphasizing the need to reacquire Petron Corporation. Last November 2021, Petron CEO and Chairman Ramon S. Ang stated his willingness to sell the company back to the government.
Meanwhile, in their proposals to end the decades-long problem of graft and corruption, VP bets provided varying responses.
Pangilingan and Lopez reiterated their clean and competent track record, while David emphasized the role of faith in addressing corruption.
Serapio, Bello, and Ong said that political dynasties contribute to corruption and poverty. Bello described the Marcos and Duterte dynasties as the “greatest evil” to the political system.
Pangilinan, Bello, Sotto to push for higher assistance fund to MSMEs; Bello criticized foreign-oriented laws
Pangilinan said that he and his running mate, Vice President Leni Robredo, want to allot a higher assistance fund amounting to Php100 billion to small entrepreneurs while citing MSMEs as the country’s largest employer.
Bello mentioned that to truthfully help the MSMEs, they would allot Php250 million emergency funds intended for the industry. He also questioned Pangilinan and Sotto for supporting Foreign Investment Act and the Retail Trade Liberalization, which he called “foreign-oriented laws”.
Sotto immediately rebutted that the purpose of the law was to allow the economy to bounce back due to the COVID-19 crisis. Pangilinan stated the safeguards of the law such as the Php100 billion fund intended to balance the possible effects of the laws.
Sotto also mentioned his and Senator Panfilo Lacson’s plan to distribute Php1 billion per province which is envisioned to be of great help to MSMEs.
Bello grills Pangilinan, Sotto on foreign policy issue
Bello, Pangilinan, and Sotto clashed on issues regarding foreign policy and maritime rights.
Pangilinan stressed the need to engage and collaborate with other Southeast Asian nations as well as the US, Japan, and Australia.
Sotto said that he filed a bill that will clarify the maritime zones of the Philippines and even mentioned the role of the Mutual Defense Treaty whenever territorial conflicts further escalate.
“We have to have an independent foreign policy,” Bello expressed opposition towards the stated foreign policies.
Closing statements: VP bets cite experience, track record, faith as criteria for the next VP; Bello calls Marcos, Sara ‘idiots’
In their closing statements, the Vice Presidential hopefuls again laid down their qualifications to be the next, second highest official of the country.
Sotto and David reiterated their experience as senator and senate staff, respectively. Pangilinan also mentioned his experience as a lawyer and his clean track record.
Serapio said that he decided to run after he discerned, reflected, and prayed because he was willing to assume the position.
Ong vowed to use his expertise to help and said, “walang humahawak sa akin” to show that he was not a traditional politician.
For Lopez, he is running for VP to “reform, build a strong, just and a progressive nation to help make lives better for our long-suffering people”.
Bello ended the debate by calling out the Marcos-Duterte tandem for not attending the debate. He remarked the two candidates as ‘idiots’, and that their tandem had no programs to offer to the people.
REFERENCES
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CNN Philippines Staff. (27 February 2022). CNN Philippines. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/business/2022/2/27/VP-candidates-on-rising-oil-prices.html
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