Assessing the Presidential Candidates

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more

and become more, you are a leader."

-John Quincy Adams,

6th President of the United States

MANUEL BAMBA VILLAR, JR.

Birthday: December 13, 1949Mother: Curita BambaFather: Manuel Montalban Villar,

Sr.Spouse: Cynthia Aguilar VillarPolitical Party: Nacionalista

BENIGNO SIMEON COJUANGCO AQUINO III

Birthday: February 8, 1960Mother: Corazon AquinoFather: Benigno Aquino Jr.Political Party: Liberal

RICHARD JUICO GORDON

Birthday: August 5, 1945Mother: Amelia Juico GordonFather: James Leonard T. GordonSpouse: Katherine GordonPolitical Party: Bagumbayan-VNP

GILBERT COJUANGCO TEODORO, JR.

Birthday: June 14, 1964Mother: Mercedes Cojuangco

TeodoroFather: Gilberto Teodoro, Sr.Spouse: Monica Prieto-TeodoroPolitical Party: LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD

JOSE MARCELO EJERCITO

Birthday: April 19, 1937Mother: Maria MarceloFather: Emilio EjercitoSpouse: Loi EjercitoPolitical Party: PMP

MARIA ANA CONSUELO MADRIGAL VALADE

Birthday: April 26, 1956Mother: Amanda Abad

Santos Madrigal

Father: Antonio MadrigalSpouse: Eric Jean Claude

Dudoignon ValadePolitical Party: Independent

EDDIE C. VILLANUEVA

Birthday: October 6, 1946Civil Status: marriedSpouse: Dr. Adoracion VillanuevaPolitical Party: Bangon Pilipinas

NICANOR JESUS PINEDA PERLAS III

Birthday: January 10, 1950Mother: Anuciacion M. PinedaFather: Jesus C. PerlasPolitical Party: Independent

JOHN CARLOS G. DELOS REYES

Birthday: February 14, 1970Spouse: Dunia ValenzuelaPolitical Party: Ang Kapatiran

ON VFA

Aquino: “Yes, but subject to review, specifically the differences in rights of Filipinos vis-a-vis the Visiting Forces Agreement”

Delos Reyes opposed the way US soldiers evade the provision regarding their short term stay in the country

ON VFA

Perlas: “if the VFA violates the Constitution, it should be stopped.”

Teodoro is into entering into more alliances to build confidence and cooperation among troops.

Villanueva is in favor of the VFA as long as its aim is to help the Filipino soldiers.

Villar: “the benefits, quantifiable or unquantifiable, that the Philippine military are getting as a result of the Visiting Forces Agreement are not enough to justify its continuation”

ON VFA

Estrada is one of the Senators who opposed the extension of the US Military Bases in Subic in 1991; he pushed for VFA during his presidency saying that it can bring good things to the country.

Gordon believes that the VFA will maintain our good relationship with the US and thus we can seek their help in times of calamity

Madrigal is against the VFA because foreign military exercises in the country meant psychological, physical and sexual abuse against women and children

ON THE PEACE PROCESS

Aquino would work for a comprehensive settlement with the MILF and the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front during his six-year term

ON THE PEACE PROCESS Madrigal (and Trillanes,) through PS

Resolution No.91, called for the investigation of the status of the peace agreements between GRP and MILF and MNLF.

Perlas crafted a manual that advances Sustainable Integrated Area Development and modern social technologies as means to improve livelihood and business opportunities for former combatants involved in the conflict in Mindanao.

Teodoro: From simply trying to win the “hearts and minds” of communities sympathetic to insurgents, the government is now focusing on using force against armed groups

ON THE PEACE PROCESS

 In the “new Philippines” that Bro. Eddie is aspiring, all Filipinos, Muslims or Christians, shall be treated equally.

In December 2007, then Senate President Manny Villar led the Senate in opposing the reinstatement of the Anti-Subversion law.

delos Reyes: decentralization could spread development to different regions especially in Mindanao.

Estrada declared an all out war against the Moros in 2001

Gordon believes that Mindanao needs real fiscal autonomy.

ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Aquino’s family were involved in the Mendiola Massacre and the Hacienda Luisita Massacre.

Delos Reyes prioritized the institutionalization of Barangay Human Rights Action Centers for the prevention of human rights violation within the barangays.

ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Eddie Villanueva is in favor of restoring death penalty.

Villar: “The commitment of our government to assume an active participation in the ASEAN human rights body is laudable”

KARAPATAN documented cases of illegal arrests, torture, imprisonment, looting and arson during Estrada’s regime.

Jamby Madrigal once called for the investigation of an alleged black list of human rights advocates and critics of the administration

ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Aquino: from strong statements for RH to responsible parenthood

The Estrada presidency strongly supported family planning.

Gordon: overpopulation is not the problem but rather the failure of the government to deliver services effectively

ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Perlas is open to the use of contraceptives but it should be backed with proper education. He is against abortion

Teodoro: initially pro-RH Bill but then proposed giving incentives to couples who use natural method in family planning.

JC delos Reyes opposes the RH bill because it is “dangerous”

Madrigal: reproductive health should be information-driven rather than consumer-driven

ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Villanueva: “There is reason to oppose those portions because five years old will be exposed to sex education. Age of maturity (must be considered)…. Personally, I’m for responsible parenthood. It is important to address overpopulation but we must not sacrifice morality. ”

Senator Manuel Villar has always been against the reproductive health bill

ON LAND REFORM

Aquino on Hacienda Luisita Estrada’s A.O. 1 and A.O. 9 Gordon was one of the 12

senators who voted for the extension of CARP.

Perlas aims to integrate a support component to the implementation of CARP

Teodoro: disputed lands in Fort Magsaysay

Villar : land conversions

ON INDUSTRIALIZATION

Perlas is for sustainable development.

Madrigal: “I do not believe in nuclear power because it can shut off any efforts for alternative energy”; no to JPEPA

Gordon was ready to vote on JPEPA, with the agreement that Japan would not export toxic waste to the Philippines

Senator Aquino voted “no” on the controversial JPEPA

delos Reyes spearheaded protests against the proposed coal power plant in Subic

Villar voted “yes” to JPEPA

ON INDUSTRIALIZATION

ON FOREIGN DEBT

the Estrada administration abused both domestic and foreign borrowing like no other president did (Jose Maria Sison, 1999)

Teodoro: It is sometimes better to borrow than increase citizens’ taxes

Villanueva: Foreign debt payments should be suspended by revoking the automatic debt servicing law or by negotiating with foreign creditors

Villar : We must deviate from our culture of excessive borrowing.

ON CORRUPTION

Aquino: SCTex overpricing

JC delos Reyes filed numerous cases before the Ombudsman against high ranking officials.

Estrada was charged with 4 counts of corruption.

ON CORRUPTION

Madrigal: “the people who insert for their own good should be charged with plunder”

Perlas aided in unveiling massive bribery and fraud regarding the purchase and construction of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

Gordon to de Venecia: “When you come in as the son of the Speaker and you make contract offers to the government, that does not look good, at the very least… that means you are trying to induce, to propose, and that is covered under the anti graft and corruption practices act”

ON CORRUPTION

During the height of the C-5 controversy, Enrile exposed that Villar tried to bribe him in exchange of a favorable decision regarding the matter. Unsurprisingly, Villar denied the allegations

Teodoro: The standards of living of government officials should be improved and they should be given incentives to be honest

Villanueva: Corruption is stealing and it is against the law of God

ON POVERTY

Teodoro: The gap between the rich and poor can be decreased through a transfer of wealth or through private incentives.

Villar has been critical regarding the Arroyo administration’s discreet battle against the media saying that they should focus more on fighting poverty, illiteracy and joblessness.

Perlas aided UNICEF in their Family Food Production Program and assisted Plan International in improving their child development program in the country

SUMMARY OF STANDS

VFA RH Human Rights

Poverty Corruption

Aquino Pro changed failed failed

Villar Anti Anti passed failed failed

Estrada Pro Pro failed failed failed

Teodoro Pro changed failed Passed** Passed**

Gordon Pro Anti passed

Madrigal Anti Pro passed Passed** Passed**

Villanueva Pro For amendments

Pro death penalty

Passed**

Perlas Anti Pro passed passed

Delos Reyes Anti Anti passed passed passed

**based on debates

ON POVERTY

JC delos Reyes was the Executive director of Breaking the Yoke of Poverty Foundation.

Estrada failed to actualize his pro-poor platform during his presidency.

Madrigal stated that we should advocate economic policies that benefit the majority instead of the oligarchs

SUMMARY OF STANDS

Industrialization Foreign Debt Land Reform Peace Process

Aquino Failed Failed Passed**

Villar Failed passed Failed

Estrada failed Failed Failed

Teodoro Better to borrow than raise taxes

Failed Failed

Gordon passed

Madrigal passed Passed

Villanueva Passed** Passed**

Perlas passed Passed** passed

Delos Reyes Passed Passed**

**based on debates

NET WORTH

Candidate Net WorthVillar $530 million (2009)

Estrada P600 million **

Teodoro P232.43 million (2008)Madrigal P 145,617,669.00 (2008)Gordon P 26.52 million (2007)Aquino P13.94 million (2007)

** 14 out of 66 companies of which Estrada and his family are shareholders are already worth P600 million

Source: PCIJ, Forbes Magazine

CAMPAIGN SPENDING FROM FEB 9 TO MARCH 8

Candidate Amount

Villar P106 million

Aquino P83 million

Estrada P 72 million

Gordon P 48 million

Teodoro P266,000 (first month only)

Source: PCIJ

Source: Pulse Asia

Source: Pulse Asia

Source: Pulse Asia