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MANILA, Philippines – Of the over 60 candidates running for the 2025 senatorial election, 12 bets joined GMA Network’s senatorial face-off on Saturday, February 1, to share their platforms and stances on major issues the Philippines faces today.
Among those who accepted the invitation, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was the only reelectionist and part of the Social Weather Stations’ “Magic 12.”
Over 30 top senatorial candidates — based on Pulse Asia and SWS surveys from December 2024 — were invited to participate in the event. While some declined, did not respond, withdrew, or backed out at the last minute, 12 candidates accepted the invitation for the face-off.
Aside from the former national police chief-turned-senator, the rest of the participants were:
- Lawyer Ernesto Arellano
- Lawyer, singer Jimmy Bondoc
- Former lawmaker Teddy Casiño
- ACT Teachers Representative France Castro
- Labor leader Leody de Guzman
- Lawyer, labor leader Luke Espiritu
- Valenzuela City 2nd District Representative Eric Martinez
- Former audit commissioner Heidi Mendoza
- Retired colonel Ariel Querubin
- Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas head Danilo Ramos
- Former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez
During the face-off, the bets were asked questions related to their career or personal lives. They also had a chance to face each other and debate a topic they disagreed on.
On the issue of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that probes killings under former president Rodrigo Duterte, including deaths under the Davao Death Squad and the drug war, Dela Rosa and Casiño shared contrasting points of view.
“ICC is not all about justice. ICC is about control. They are not after justice, they are about controlling all the member nations of the ICC,” Dela Rosa, who was among the high-ranking police officers the ICC had invited for an interview for its probe, said.
Earlier in the debate, Casiño said the return to the ICC would benefit the victims of injustice in the Philippines: “Kailangan nating bumalik sa ICC dahil bulok ang sistema ng hustisya sa ating bansa at kailangang may ibang matatakbuhan ang mga biktima ng mga matitinding krimen sa ating bansa…. Kung mahirap ka, wala kang koneksyon, wala kang makukuhang hustisya, lalo na kapag ang katapat, ang nangbiktima sa iyo ay pulis, military, o kaya mataas na opisyal ng gobyerno.“
(We need to return to the ICC because of the poor justice system in the country, and also because there should be a body that victims of grave injustices could run to. If you are poor and have no connections, you cannot attain justice, especially if your perpetrators are uniformed men or high-ranking government officials.)
Where they stand
The bets gave their stances on major issues by raising YES or NO placards. Here’s the summary of their responses:
Return to the ICC
YES: Arellano, Casiño, Castro, De Guzman, Espiritu, Mendoza, Ramos
NO: Bondoc, Dela Rosa, Martinez, Querubin, Rodriguez
Mandatory random drug testing for elected, appointed public officials
YES: Arellano, Bondoc, De Guzman, Dela Rosa, Martinez, Mendoza, Querubin, Rodriguez
NO: Casiño, Castro, Espiritu, Ramos
Removal of confidential and intelligence funds of agencies not involved in intelligence gathering
YES: Arellano, Casiño, Castro, De Guzman, Dela Rosa, Espiritu, Mendoza, Querubin, Ramos, Rodriguez
NO: Bondoc, Martinez
Abolition of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (government arm mandated to recover Marcoses’ ill-gotten wealth)
YES: Arellano, Dela Rosa, Mendoza, Querubin, Rodriguez
NO: Bondoc, Casiño, Castro, De Guzman, Espiritu, Martinez, Ramos
Abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (controversial task force due to its widespread red-tagging of government critics and activists)
YES: Arellano, Casiño, Castro, De Guzman, Espiritu, Mendoza, Ramos
NO: Bondoc, Dela Rosa, Martinez, Querubin, Rodriguez
Filing of complaints against Duterte (the House of Representatives’ quad committee has recommended the filing of a suit against the former president for crimes against humanity)
YES: Arellano, Casiño, Castro, De Guzman, Espiritu, Mendoza, Ramos
NO: Bondoc, Dela Rosa, Martinez, Querubin, and Rodriguez
Passage of anti-teenage pregnancy bill
YES: Arellano, Casiño, Castro, De Guzman, Espiritu, Mendoza, Ramos
NO: Bondoc, Dela Rosa, Martinez, Querubin, Rodriguez
Death by firing squad for public officials guilty of corruption
YES: Arellano, Dela Rosa, Querubin
NO: Bondoc, Casiño, Castro, De Guzman, Espiritu, Martinez, Mendoza, Ramos, Rodriguez
Publicizing of Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN)
YES: Arellano, Bondoc, Casiño, Castro, Dela Rosa, De Guzman, Espiritu, Martinez, Mendoza, Querubin, Ramos
NO: Rodriguez
There was also a round where the candidates were asked to raise an emoji that corresponded to their reaction to the photo shown.
YouTube screenshot/GMA NetworkAmong the photos shown was of Duterte’s. The photo of former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, who faces criminal complaints for her alleged ties to a shady Philippine offshore gaming operator, was also shown during the quick segment.
YouTube screenshot/ GMA NetworkThe bets were also asked about their perspectives on other issues and personal matters, such as economic problems, China’s threats in the West Philippine Sea, salary of lawmakers, and even the number of their personal vehicles.
Midterm elections like the upcoming May polls are vital as they would dictate the new composition of the country’s roster of public officials, particularly in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Midterm elections are important, too, for chief executives like Marcos, as they could indicate a president’s public approval and political influence as the sitting head of state. – Rappler.com
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