The Visayas leg of the PiliPinas Debates for the upcoming presidential elections is scheduled on Sunday, March 20, at the University of the Philippines in Cebu.
Like the first leg in Mindanao, the public forum will feature the five presidential candidates: Vice President Jejomar Binay, Liberal Party’s Mar Roxas, Senators Grace Poe and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
The first debates had a lot of notable and memorable quotes from the five candidates. Below are 20 of them:
BINAY’S WEALTH.
1. Binay said some of his properties were inherited from his parents. “Yung iba naman dun nabili namin, at may kakayahan naman kaming makabili. Di naman porke kami ho ay nasa pamahalaan, e, wala kaming magagawang paraan para kami ay makabili ng mga pag-aari. Hindi po totoo na ako ho ay maraming lupa. Ito ho ay either namana ko, o ito ho ay nabili ko.”
2. He accused Roxas of neglecting the victims of Yolanda. “E siya, nasaan ho siya? Pagkatapos ho nung lumindol, at mangyari yung sa Leyte, nawala na ho siya, kaya naman ho grabe ang galit sa kanya ng mga taga-Leyte, dahil ho sa kapalpakan niya sa problema ni Yolanda.”
3. Binay stressed that he is a good leader. “Alam ang problema, e. Bakit hindi masolusyonan? Kasi hindi marunong mamuno. Ako ho I am a decisive leader. I hit the ground running. Haharapin ko ho ang problema.”
4. He explained why he does not want to limit politicial dynasties. “Bakit naman ho magkakaroon ng batas para pagbawalan yung gustong magtrabaho? Qualified naman at mahahalal sa isang malinis at marangal na halalan. Hindi naman ho guarantee na porke kamag-anak e mananalo. Ang Maynila tadtad ng anak, asawa, lahat ho natatalo.”
ROXAS AND HIS TRACK RECORD.
5. Roxas denied that he failed to take action on the Yolanda tragedy. “Ang Yolanda ang pinakamalakas na bagyo sa kasaysayan ng mundo. Ang buong gobyerno ay naandun. Nandun ako bago, habang at pagkatapos ng bagyo. Hindi ako bumitiw hanggang nag-stabilize ang sitwasyon at hindi ako tulad ng iba na dumating, nag-helicopter, nag-turista, umalis at marami na ngayon na sinasabi.”
6. Roxas promoted his achievements in poverty alleviation. “Mahigit dalawang milyon na mga tao ay naitawid mula sa poverty line to above the poverty line. Magreklamo man o mag-question sa datos pero 'yan ang datos ng NEDA at ating statistical office.”
7. Roxas questioned Poe’s qualifications. “Ang pagiging Pangulo ay hindi OJT. Kinabukasan, buhay, kaunlaran ng isandaang milyong Pilipino ang nakasalalay dito. Kaya may tamang panahon para sa lahat. Para sa akin, yung karanasan ay isa sa pinakamahalagang katangian para sa pagiging Pangulo.”
8. He also called out Binay for allegedly lying about Makati’s progress. “Nabanggit ni Vice President Binay ang Makati. Hindi ba ang totoo, dalawa ang Makati? Makati ng mga Ayala na maunlad, maraming trabaho, at Mkati ng mga Binay na mahirap pa rin. Comembo, Rembo. Nandiyan pa rin ang mga mahihirap.”
POE’S PLATFORMS.
9. Poe had a lot to say about her plans if elected President. She talked about her idea to add a feeding program for school children. “Ang una talaga para sa akin ay dapat magkaroon ng libreng pananghalian sa ating mga public schools, dahil 'yan ay diretso sa mga tiyan ng mga bata. Hindi po matututo ang ating mga bata at hindi po tatalino kung sila po ay nagugutom.”
10. She also said the key to peace process is inclusion of all diversities. “Ang nais ko po ay magkaroon ng transparent, inclusive at sustainable na pag-uusap at saka kasunduan. Kailangan talaga sa pagbuo ng bagong kasunduan o pagtulak nito, kailangan isama natin ang lahat ng grupo. MILF, MNLF, lahat ng mga grupo, hindi lang Maguindanao-an, Tausug, Maranao, Badjao, kung ano pa, pati na ang mga IPs. Pati mga Kristiyano sa Mindanao na bumubuo nito.”
11. She believed that being new to government is a positive quality. “Siguro napapanahon na para magkaroon ng bagong perspektibo. Marami diyan ang namuno na noon bilang Pangulo, o matagal na sila sa gobyerno. Marahil hindi na sila nag-iisip ng ibang paraan para makatulong sa ating bayan at sa ating ekonomiya.”
12. Poe also gave an advice to Duterte to act respectable around women. “Kahit na papano sa tingin ko, kung ikaw ay malakas ang appeal sa mga babae, konting pigil sapagkat siyempre malay mo yung mga lumalapit may asawa, may boyfriend o kung ano pa man. Sa mata ng bata, ang mali ay nagiging tama kung ginagawa ng matanda.”
DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO’S HEALTH.
13. Defensor-Santiago justified her bid for presidency despite her failing health. “Hindi mo ba alam na ang sakit, tumataas o bumababa o nawawala? Magtatanong ka bakit may sakit ka, bakit tumatakbo ka? E, diretso ko 'yan, karapatan ko 'yan sa ilalim ng, under our Constitution. Wala namang constitutional provision na if you are sick of something, you are disqualified.”
14. She added that she wants to serve the country until her last breath. “My only purpose is to serve out the rest of my life. I'm only 70 years old. Plus six-year term as President, I would have served my country until 76. I do not want to spend the next six years lying in bed, feeling sorry for myself.”
15. She also maintained her stand against political dynasty. “Dapat may batas na ganun. Pinagsasabi ng mga miyembro na malabo. Ang totoo niyan, self-invested sila e. Gusto nila ang dynasty dahil mga dynasty ang pinanggalingan nila o pupuntahan nila. Ngayon kung ayaw nila nun, we must amend the Constitution. But while it is there, it must be obeyed. The Constitution is always and always supreme.”
16. She also downplayed the platforms of the other candidates. “As I said, these are all promises way up in the sky. Promises in the sky is a program of government of many officials running for public office. Saan natin kukunin ang pera? Yung ang tinatanong ko, saan? Sinong magbibigay, magdo-donate? Mga mayayaman ba? Dadagdagan natin dahil sa mayaman sila? Malaking problema yang where to source the funds.”
DUTERTE’S MACHISMO.
17. Duterte justified his womaneering. “Kung hiwalay ka sa asawa, anong gawin mo sa sarili mo? E, anong gawin ko karga-karga ko, hindi ko mapagbili ito, hindi ko masangla, e. Gamitin mo dapat kundi mamatay ka.”
18. He also denied that he is setting a bad example for the youth, because he does the deed in private anyway. “Lahat naman ito sa kuwarto yan. You don't front it on public. And I said if you have to do it, I said I'm separated from my wife, yung isang asawa nasa Amerika, yung nurse. So far and wide in between those years... It's biology, actually it is biology.”
19. Duterte sounded agreeable to most of the candidates during the debate. For example, his reponse to Roxas’s plans to boost fisheries was that he wants to copy it. “I cannot rebut what he said because it's all true. Gusto ko ngang kopyahin kung papayag siya, e.”
20. But Duterte came off strong in several topics, including the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which he wants to instill if he is elected. “It is very important na kung ako ang mapupunta diyan, I will not just offer BBL with the same configurations, but I will offer federalism to all, pati kay Nur Misuari on the western side. That would maybe appease everybody, because every Moro pulitiko would really like to see federalism kasi pumalpak nga ang BBL. We have to do this because I said nothing short will appease and bring peace to Mindanao.”