2022 Philippine Elections

[HIGHLIGHTS] Usapang Halalan 2022: The CBCP presidential forum

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[HIGHLIGHTS] Usapang Halalan 2022: The CBCP presidential forum

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is airing its presidential forum at 6 pm (Manila time) on Friday, March 25, featuring four presidential candidates who responded to their invitation.

The participants are Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Manny Pacquiao, former defense secretary Norberto Gonzales, and labor leader Leody de Guzman.

Scroll down this page for live updates, context, analyses, and fact checks from Rappler as the forum unfolds. Further down the page, click “load more.”

LATEST UPDATES

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[LIVESTREAM] Usapang Halalan 2022: The CBCP presidential forum

Rappler.com

Watch the livestream of Usapang Halalan 2022 by clicking the YouTube link below.

[HIGHLIGHTS] Usapang Halalan 2022: The CBCP presidential forum

Survey laggard Norberto Gonzales appeals: ‘Huwag ‘nyo akong kantyawan’

Candidates discuss their stance on death penalty

Robredo: ‘Faith is crucial in combating a problem like teenage pregnancy’

Mara Cepeda

Presidential candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo recognized the crucial role the Church can play in helping address a problem like teenage pregnancy in the Philippines.

“Napakahalaga ng partnership with the community, and in this case, the partnership with the Church…. Mahalaga ang faith sa pagsugpo sa ganitong problema,” said Robredo during the CBCP presidential forum on Friday, March 25.

(Partnerships with the community are important, and in this case, the partnership with the Church… Faith is crucial in combating a problem like this.)

She said the Office of the Vice President currently has a program with the United Nations Population Fund focused on addressing teenage pregnancy, precisely because they recognize it is a crisis being faced by the country today. 

Robredo also said it is important that the government’s support system for young pregnant women be readily accessible. 

“Halimbawa ‘pag nabuntis ‘yung bata, dapat alam ‘nya na meron siyang sasalo. Dahil kung wala sa kanyang sasalo, baka pumapasok yung pagkitil ng buhay,” said Robredo.

(For example, when a minor becomes pregnant, she needs to know someone would support her. Because if no one will, then that’s when she would possibly consider ending a life.)

Robredo on failure to release SALNs: ‘Kalokohan ‘yan’

Increase judiciary budget to attract the ‘best and brightest’ lawyers – Robredo

Mara Cepeda

Presidential candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo spoke from experience when she recommended increasing the budget for the judiciary if the government wants to attract the “best and the brightest” lawyers.

During the CBCP forum on Friday, March 25, Robredo recalled how tough it was when she was practicing as a lawyer with the Public Attorney’s Office. The hours were grueling, and lawyers like her barely had the time to properly discuss cases with their clients, as cases tend to pile up. These working conditions discouraged top-notch lawyers from serving in government.

But Robredo believes if more funds are poured into the judiciary, the quality of lawyers serving the poor would increase, too. Justice would be served much faster.

“Dapat mas dagdag na abogado. Dapat ma-attract mo ‘yung the best and the brightest sa serbisyo… Ang daming vacancies, hindi ma-fill up. Kulang yung budget na binibigay sa kanila… Ang naaffect dito, yung speedy trial,” she said. 

(We need more lawyers. You need to attract the best and the brightest… There are so many vacancies but we can’t fill them up. It’s because the budget isn’t enough… It affects the speedy trial of cases.)

De Guzman wants to repeal the Mining Act of 1995

Sofia Guanzon