By TJ Burgonio, Fe Zamora (Philippine Daily Inquirer) Jan 15, 2010
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100115-247400/Only-3-come-to-debate-Where-are-the-others
MANILA, Philippines—It took former President Fidel Ramos to ask the most obvious question at Thursday’s forum in Makati City for presidential candidates: “Where are the others?”
Only three candidates—Senators Manuel Villar and Richard Gordon and former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, standard-bearers of the Nacionalista Party, Bagumbayani Party and Lakas-Kampi-CMD, respectively—showed up at the Presidential Policy Forum on Philippine Credibility and Competitiveness in the World at the Asian Institute of Management.
The front-runner, Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, as well as deposed President Joseph Estrada, declined the invitation made in October. Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Councilor John Carlos de los Reyes were also no-shows.
Aquino’s absence did not spare him from snide remarks by Villar and Gordon.
“... You have to check our records. What have we done in the past?” Villar said in an apparent swipe at Aquino’s purported lackluster record as a three-term congressman of Tarlac. (Aquino was elected senator in 2007.)
Gordon launched a two-fisted attack: “You cannot buy the presidency. You cannot inherit the presidency. You have to earn it.”
It was a broadside at both Villar (who is reportedly spending million of pesos on TV ads) and Aquino (who accepted a sudden clamor for him to seek the presidency after the massive funeral of his mother, the well-loved former President Corazon Aquino, in August 2009).
Peace process, etc.
For almost two hours, Villar, Gordon and Teodoro expounded on the peace process and the presence of private armies in Mindanao, the economy, foreign relations, curbing corruption and achieving global competitiveness.
In the process, they assailed the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for its purported failure to implement law and order in Mindanao, its many political appointees in the foreign service and its lack of political will in upholding the rule of law.
Gordon offered examples of how to address such problems as criminality and human rights violations, drawing on his “macro perspective” as a former mayor of Olongapo City and former chair of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
With his impressive command of the English language, he was also the most engaging speaker, spicing up his prose with quotes from poets Robert Frost and Alfred Tennyson.
Teodoro talked about his policies and plans, including replacing the paramilitary with regular troops (an old theme revived in the Armed Forces whenever convenient).
Lawyer Claudette dela Serna, who attended the forum with another lawyer, said: “Teodoro is very clear about his policies. He is very realistic.”
Villar never strayed from his pro-poor stance, saying that poverty was the root of the problems in Mindanao, and that the government must provide “safety nets” for overseas Filipino workers.
He also expounded on his “competence, experience and managerial skills.”
From being a reluctant presence at political forums, Villar has become a stinging speaker since last week. But his tirades continued to be focused on Aquino, the consistent top man in the surveys.
Promises, promises
In response to a question from University of the Philippines professor Carol Hernandez—What are you promising now that will change when you become president?—Villar, Teodoro and Gordon agreed that their respective public service record would give the people an idea if they could deliver on their promises.
Said Villar: “This is the problem with elections. We make a lot of promises. But the thing is, you ask us what we will do. [And] it’s also important to ask us whether we can do these things.
“What’s our experience? What have we shown in the past? Can we now, in the light of what we’ve done, do what we’re saying? Otherwise, you can just make a speech and prepare a 200-point agenda, written with passion, and then appear like you can do it.
Teodoro agreed, but pointed out that Filipinos were clamoring for change, yet were “suspicious and skeptical of attempts at change.”
“That is the paradox of Philippine society. The challenge is really to provide an example that you can lead fairly [and] clearly. You don’t provide false expectations to our people. We, if God grants us to become president, are mere leaders of a movement, leaders of organization. The burden is shared not only [among] us but among citizens, not only collectively but individually,” he said.
Gordon said: “We have to start believing that we are horizon chasers ... Action, not words. We have to look at track records of candidates ... Check our records. What did we do in our city? What did we do in our province? What did we do when we were congressmen, when we were senators, in the Cabinet? ...”
Decorum
The forum was sponsored by the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation for Peace and Development and ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Speaking for the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation, Roberto Romulo said he believed that the organizers succeeded in mounting a sober forum.
“What we tried to convey in this session was a level of decorum and maturity, and not something where they would be talking in Plaza Miranda or something. I think we succeeded [in] that they did give their issues and there was no patama (broadside)—or not too much—and I think that was very good,” he told reporters.
Romulo said the three candidates made a good choice to attend the forum.
“I think the advantage here is that I think it’s the first time substantive issues were discussed substantively without emotion, and the whole country was hooked because we didn’t only have ANC but also Studio 23—and to my surprise, Twitter and Facebook. I’m delighted to see that. Hope to see more of this in the future,” he said.
According to Romulo, Aquino and Estrada sent their regrets four days ago. “From my perspective, maybe they were busy,” he said.
Corruption
The three candidates took varying approaches to issues, with one taking a stronger position on one issue and offering more specific answers than the others.
On corruption as a disincentive to investments, Gordon said: “Corruption can’t be solved if we have somebody like a President who commits a crime, and you pardon him. There’s no way people will believe if you pardon people.”
It was an apparent reference to Ms Arroyo’s pardon of Estrada after he was convicted of plunder in 2007.
Villar, who has been linked to a controversial road expansion project but was cleared by the Senate, proposed a televised bidding of government projects to ensure transparency.
“The bidding will be live on TV. This term is not going to be corrupt,” he said, adding that the next leader and his administration should lead by example and crack the whip on the “few institutions that have the highest level of corruption.”
On raising Filipinos’ competitiveness, Teodoro said he agreed with proposals to add one more year to basic and secondary education, and teach another language, like Spanish, in preparatory school.
On foreign policy, Teodoro said: “In the first six months, we will concentrate on domestic matters.”
But eventually, he said, he would attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference in Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Vietnam, as scheduled later this year.
The three agreed on the wisdom of stepping up relations with China, an emerging economic power in the world.
“China in particular is the most important country for us in the future,” Villar said, pointing that the row with China over the disputed Spratly islands should not be a problem. “To me, this need not be a hindrance toward a much closer relations with China. Use China as the biggest source, not the US.”
‘Focused leadership’
Gordon said the solution would be a “focused leadership” who can show predictability and consistency, while Villar said the next leader should be a “multi-tasker” who can implement development, maintain law and order, and talk peace with the rebels at the same time.
At one point, Gordon said: “All the jingles that some people are trying to come up with to say that they are pro-poor and everything like that, that’s a lot of hokum. Everybody is pro-poor and you know it.
“Who can do it? Who has done it? Who will do it? Yes, we have done it. Yes we must.”
MANILA, Philippines—It took former President Fidel Ramos to ask the most obvious question at Thursday’s forum in Makati City for presidential candidates: “Where are the others?”
Only three candidates—Senators Manuel Villar and Richard Gordon and former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, standard-bearers of the Nacionalista Party, Bagumbayani Party and Lakas-Kampi-CMD, respectively—showed up at the Presidential Policy Forum on Philippine Credibility and Competitiveness in the World at the Asian Institute of Management.
The front-runner, Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, as well as deposed President Joseph Estrada, declined the invitation made in October. Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Councilor John Carlos de los Reyes were also no-shows.
Aquino’s absence did not spare him from snide remarks by Villar and Gordon.
“... You have to check our records. What have we done in the past?” Villar said in an apparent swipe at Aquino’s purported lackluster record as a three-term congressman of Tarlac. (Aquino was elected senator in 2007.)
Gordon launched a two-fisted attack: “You cannot buy the presidency. You cannot inherit the presidency. You have to earn it.”
It was a broadside at both Villar (who is reportedly spending million of pesos on TV ads) and Aquino (who accepted a sudden clamor for him to seek the presidency after the massive funeral of his mother, the well-loved former President Corazon Aquino, in August 2009).
Peace process, etc.
For almost two hours, Villar, Gordon and Teodoro expounded on the peace process and the presence of private armies in Mindanao, the economy, foreign relations, curbing corruption and achieving global competitiveness.
In the process, they assailed the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for its purported failure to implement law and order in Mindanao, its many political appointees in the foreign service and its lack of political will in upholding the rule of law.
Gordon offered examples of how to address such problems as criminality and human rights violations, drawing on his “macro perspective” as a former mayor of Olongapo City and former chair of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
With his impressive command of the English language, he was also the most engaging speaker, spicing up his prose with quotes from poets Robert Frost and Alfred Tennyson.
Teodoro talked about his policies and plans, including replacing the paramilitary with regular troops (an old theme revived in the Armed Forces whenever convenient).
Lawyer Claudette dela Serna, who attended the forum with another lawyer, said: “Teodoro is very clear about his policies. He is very realistic.”
Villar never strayed from his pro-poor stance, saying that poverty was the root of the problems in Mindanao, and that the government must provide “safety nets” for overseas Filipino workers.
He also expounded on his “competence, experience and managerial skills.”
From being a reluctant presence at political forums, Villar has become a stinging speaker since last week. But his tirades continued to be focused on Aquino, the consistent top man in the surveys.
Promises, promises
In response to a question from University of the Philippines professor Carol Hernandez—What are you promising now that will change when you become president?—Villar, Teodoro and Gordon agreed that their respective public service record would give the people an idea if they could deliver on their promises.
Said Villar: “This is the problem with elections. We make a lot of promises. But the thing is, you ask us what we will do. [And] it’s also important to ask us whether we can do these things.
“What’s our experience? What have we shown in the past? Can we now, in the light of what we’ve done, do what we’re saying? Otherwise, you can just make a speech and prepare a 200-point agenda, written with passion, and then appear like you can do it.
Teodoro agreed, but pointed out that Filipinos were clamoring for change, yet were “suspicious and skeptical of attempts at change.”
“That is the paradox of Philippine society. The challenge is really to provide an example that you can lead fairly [and] clearly. You don’t provide false expectations to our people. We, if God grants us to become president, are mere leaders of a movement, leaders of organization. The burden is shared not only [among] us but among citizens, not only collectively but individually,” he said.
Gordon said: “We have to start believing that we are horizon chasers ... Action, not words. We have to look at track records of candidates ... Check our records. What did we do in our city? What did we do in our province? What did we do when we were congressmen, when we were senators, in the Cabinet? ...”
Decorum
The forum was sponsored by the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation for Peace and Development and ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Speaking for the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation, Roberto Romulo said he believed that the organizers succeeded in mounting a sober forum.
“What we tried to convey in this session was a level of decorum and maturity, and not something where they would be talking in Plaza Miranda or something. I think we succeeded [in] that they did give their issues and there was no patama (broadside)—or not too much—and I think that was very good,” he told reporters.
Romulo said the three candidates made a good choice to attend the forum.
“I think the advantage here is that I think it’s the first time substantive issues were discussed substantively without emotion, and the whole country was hooked because we didn’t only have ANC but also Studio 23—and to my surprise, Twitter and Facebook. I’m delighted to see that. Hope to see more of this in the future,” he said.
According to Romulo, Aquino and Estrada sent their regrets four days ago. “From my perspective, maybe they were busy,” he said.
Corruption
The three candidates took varying approaches to issues, with one taking a stronger position on one issue and offering more specific answers than the others.
On corruption as a disincentive to investments, Gordon said: “Corruption can’t be solved if we have somebody like a President who commits a crime, and you pardon him. There’s no way people will believe if you pardon people.”
It was an apparent reference to Ms Arroyo’s pardon of Estrada after he was convicted of plunder in 2007.
Villar, who has been linked to a controversial road expansion project but was cleared by the Senate, proposed a televised bidding of government projects to ensure transparency.
“The bidding will be live on TV. This term is not going to be corrupt,” he said, adding that the next leader and his administration should lead by example and crack the whip on the “few institutions that have the highest level of corruption.”
On raising Filipinos’ competitiveness, Teodoro said he agreed with proposals to add one more year to basic and secondary education, and teach another language, like Spanish, in preparatory school.
On foreign policy, Teodoro said: “In the first six months, we will concentrate on domestic matters.”
But eventually, he said, he would attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference in Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Vietnam, as scheduled later this year.
The three agreed on the wisdom of stepping up relations with China, an emerging economic power in the world.
“China in particular is the most important country for us in the future,” Villar said, pointing that the row with China over the disputed Spratly islands should not be a problem. “To me, this need not be a hindrance toward a much closer relations with China. Use China as the biggest source, not the US.”
‘Focused leadership’
Gordon said the solution would be a “focused leadership” who can show predictability and consistency, while Villar said the next leader should be a “multi-tasker” who can implement development, maintain law and order, and talk peace with the rebels at the same time.
At one point, Gordon said: “All the jingles that some people are trying to come up with to say that they are pro-poor and everything like that, that’s a lot of hokum. Everybody is pro-poor and you know it.
“Who can do it? Who has done it? Who will do it? Yes, we have done it. Yes we must.”
napanood ko tong forum na toh ehh. tatlo nga lang sila ang nagpunta, c gordon, villar at gibo! malaking tanong ay nasan c noynoy?
ReplyDeletesi noynoy nagtatago! takot masabon ulit nila sen. villar at sen. gordon. hahahaha.
ReplyDeletei've also watched this too. and noynoy is not there, and nabasa ko sa isang account in tweeter that he's at tarlac daw that time, maybe nagtatago sia there. lol.
ReplyDeleteoo nasa tarlac daw si noynoy nung araw na yon, hinarang daw sila ng mga tao.. kya di siya nakapunta, mga rason nga naman..
ReplyDeletetotoo nga ba talaga na nasa tarlac c noynoy o baka gawa gawa lang nila to para hindi na siya ulit idiin nila gordon at villar sa susunod na mga interview?
ReplyDeleteguys! dont be fools... the reason Noynoy wasnt there because he needs to be with his poeople. The Tarlacaños are very happy to meet and greet him. And please don't be too judgemental, he has been in a forum and a debate last year.. it just happens that he has prior engagement.
ReplyDelete