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
WATCH: Will Pacquiao recalibrate his strategy before election day?
Will Senator Manny Pacquiao, who trails in surveys, recalibrate his campaign strategy with over a month left before election day? pic.twitter.com/orpg9AzsUZ
— Dwight De Leon (@newsdwight) March 25, 2022
WATCH: De Guzman laments absence of other candidates in forum
Labor leader Leody de Guzman laments that not all candidates were present in today’s CBCP presidential forum. pic.twitter.com/70QYtsDOkw
— Dwight De Leon (@newsdwight) March 25, 2022
WATCH: CBCP Commission on Social Communications Fr. Dimaano speaks to the media
Fr. Ilde Dimaano, CBCP Commission on Social Communications on his assessment of the forum, which had roundtable format:
— Dwight De Leon (@newsdwight) March 25, 2022
“It was a very friendly forum, which is the idea… It’s more of what they think on matters important to Catholics… but also sa mga Pilipino.” pic.twitter.com/ejbE5hUHYt
Fr. Ilde Dimaano of CBCP Commission on Social Communications says they understand why other candidates were unable to take part in the CBCP presidential forum due to conflict of schedule. pic.twitter.com/UUpUAATQhK
— Dwight De Leon (@newsdwight) March 25, 2022
[LIVESTREAM] Usapang Halalan 2022: The CBCP presidential forum
Watch the livestream of Usapang Halalan 2022 by clicking the YouTube link below.
Survey laggard Norberto Gonzales appeals: ‘Huwag ‘nyo akong kantyawan’
Robredo: Ang panalo natin sa eleksyon, magmumula rin sa pag-asa mula sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino #PHVote
— Mara Cepeda (@maracepeda) March 25, 2022
Robredo: ‘Faith is crucial in combating a problem like teenage pregnancy’
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.)
Increase judiciary budget to attract the ‘best and brightest’ lawyers – Robredo
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
De Guzman wants to repeal the Mining Act of 1995, says: Isusulong natin ang mineral management act, para iyong paraan ng pagmimina, magagamit lamang sa pagpapaunlad ng industriya, ekonomiya.
— Sofia Guanzon (@_sofiaguanzon) March 25, 2022