MANILA, Philippines – Senatorial bets – except for one – each made a pitch for a presidential candidate during a Rappler-organized debate on Friday, April 15.

During the second #TheLeaderIWant debate organized by Rappler, senatorial candidate Dionisio Santiago was first to answer a question from Rappler editors on who they think will win as president.

Santiago, former head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, said it will be Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. He said he is an independent candidate “aligned with Duterte.” (READ: The Leader I Want: Dionisio Santiago’s to-fix list for 2016)

Eliciting laughter, Santiago said, “May dayaan ba? Pero alam ‘nyo, may dayaan ba? Pag walang dayaan, trending lang, and I’ve been around the campaign trail, basta parehas ang laban, I think it will be Duterte.”

(Is there cheating? Do you know if there’s cheating? If there’s no cheating, and this is trending, and I’ve been around the campaign trail, as long as the fight is fair, I think it will be Duterte.)

Senatorial candidate Risa Hontiveros, for her part, made a pitch for administration candidate Manuel Roxas II and his running mate, Leni Robredo.

Hontiveros, who already lost two senatorial elections, said Roxas and Robredo know that this is a “high stakes” elections and they will not let Filipinos down. (READ: The Leader I Want: Risa Hontiveros’ to-fix list for 2016)

Richard Gordon, another senatorial candidate, said he thinks it “will be a fight between Mr Duterte and Ms Poe.” (READ: The Leader I Want: Richard Gordon’s to-fix list for 2016)

Explaining why Duterte will win, Gordon said, “Galit ang tao sa corruption, sa patayan.” (People hate corruption and killings.)

He described Poe, on the other hand, as diligent and connected. “Gusto ng tao, may puso,” he said. (People want those with a heart.)

‘Who’s not gonna win?’

Like Gordon, senatorial candidate Sherwin Gatchalian made a pitch for Poe. Gatchalian also said Poe’s running mate, Francis Escudero, will win the elections.

He is the younger brother of Poe’s spokesman Rex Gatchalian. (READ: The Leader I Want: Sherwin Gatchalian’s to-fix list for 2016)

The senatorial candidate explained that the Poe-Escudero tandem is running on a platform of creating jobs and fighting poverty.

After Gatchalian, senatorial candidate Leila de Lima took her turn: “Alam ‘nyo naman siguro ang sagot ko diyan. Siyempre kay Mar Roxas at Leni Robredo po tayo.” (You probably know my answer to that question. Of course, I’m for Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo.)

De Lima, a former justice secretary under the Aquino administration, described Roxas and Robredo as “the most qualified and most competent” for the positions they’re running for. (READ: The Leader I Want: Leila de Lima’s to-fix list for 2016)

Unlike all the other candidates in Friday’s debate, senatorial candidate Walden Bello said he would rather answer the question, “Who’s not gonna win?”

Bello, an ally-turned-critic of the Aquino administration, said he is sure Roxas will not win the May 9 elections. He said Robredo, on the other hand, has a good chance. (READ: The Leader I Want: Walden Bello’s to-fix list for 2016)

He said, “Mar is really a management failure, and people have had enough of that.” – Rappler.com