Philippine Senatorial Candidates 2016 Election: A Guide on Platforms and Bills Passed

Sharing an informative list from Miss Erin Ko's FB page:

A List of SENATORIAL CANDIDATES for 2016
which includes all their PLATFORMS AND BILLS PASSED
- PARA SA MGA TAMAD MAGRESEARCH

A guide for the UNDECIDED, APOLITICAL, NEUTRAL or those who want to vote based on what the candidate stands for. This is a good starting point:

Senatoriables listed in alphabetical order from last name:

CANDIDATE #1 RAFAEL ALUNAN
Party: Bagumbayan
Main Issues: anti-corruption, anti-poverty
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- served in the cabinets of two presidents, Cory Aquino and Fidel Ramos, to head the Department of Tourism and the Department of Interior and Local Government, respectively.
- one of the leaders of the West Philippine Sea Coalition, which has led protest actions against China
- held the rank of Colonel in the Armed Forces and commanded two (2) Army Infantry Reserve Divisions.
- wants to amend the constitution to grow a balanced economy, reduce poverty and reverse the diaspora

CANDIDATE #2 INA AMBOLODTO
Party: LP
Main Issues: peace and order, especially in conflict-ridden areas in Mindanao
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- pro-Bangsamoro Law
- Vice Mayor of Northern Kabuntalan
- most senior Boardmember of Shariff Kabunsuan Province during the 2007 national and local elections
- elected Vice President for Mindanao of the Provincial Boardmembers' League of the Philippines.
- appointed Vice Governor and Acting Provincial Governor after the Maguindanao massacre in 2009

CANDIDATE #3 WALDEN BELLO
Party: Akbayan Citizens' Action Party
Main Issues: anti-injustice, anti-inequality, and anti-corruption
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- resigned his position in congress due to conflicts with President Benigno Aquino III that surrounded the Disbursement Acceleration Program and the Mamasapano incident, accused Aquino of "fraternizing"
- global activist, author, academic, and political analyst; world-renowned intellectual whose views on a wide range of topics like globalization, militarization, politics, and the economy often appear on local and international publications. He is the author of at least 14 books on these issues.
- pushed for the party's initiatives like agrarian reform, the Reproductive Health law, the Freedom of Information bill, bills to end discrimination of the LGBT community, land use, and measures to secure the welfare of workers and the urban poor.
- co-founded the Bangkok-based think tank Focus on the Global South, and was professor of sociology at the University of the Philippines. He became president of the Freedom from Debt Coalition, and chairman of the board of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

CANDIDATE #4 NERI COLMENARES
Party: Bayan Muna partylist Representative (declared support for Poe/Escudero, endorsed by Erap)
Main Issues: Human Rights
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- pushing for Freedom of Information law, anti-dynasty law, and policies promoting nationalism.
- advocate for women's rights, pro-RH Bill
- anti-FDI / anti-federalism
- author of the 2K SSS Pension Hike bill

CANDIDATE #5 LEILA DE LIMA
Party: LP
Main Issues: Criminal Justice
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Chair of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in May 2008
- Secretary of Justice
- Law professor specializing in Election Law, Business Organizations, Persons and Family Relations, Transportation Law, and Statutory Construction.

CANDIDATE #6 FRANKLIN DRILON
Party: LP
Main Issues: Continuation of Daang Matuwid
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- DOLE secretary, 1987-1990
- Department of Justice Secretary, (1990–1991; 1992–1995)
- current Senate President
- Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance
- worked firmly for the enactment of the Sin Tax Law that would impose higher taxes on the cigarettes and liquors
- championed major reform measures during the 15th Congress: the GOCC Governance Act of 2011, the law that synchronized the elections in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao with the May national elections
- force behind the approval of the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project-Stage II.

CANDIDATE #7 SHERWIN "WIN" GATCHALIAN
Party: Partido Galing at Puso (Poe and Escudero)
Main Issues: Education and good governance
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- founded Task Force on Fraternities and Gangs Intervention and Prevention (TAFFGIP), which ended strings of violence caused by gang wars in the city in 2010.
- House Bill No. 4714, also named as the “Servando Act.” - ban all forms of hazing in fraternities, sororities and other organization; and make the schools liable when it comes to the groups operating within their jurisdiction
- KAPITBAHAYAN PARA SA KALIKASAN (KPK) PROGRAM: new sources of livelihood friendly to the environment
- taken part in on-going construction of Valenzuela-Obando-Meycauayan (VOM) flood project, which started in 2012

CANDIDATE #8 RICHARD "DICK" GORDON
Party: Bagumbayan
Main Issues: anti-corruption in government, improving education
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- former Mayor of Olongapo City during the 1980’s. During his term as Mayor, the city became a highly urbanized city and was converted from a “sin city” into a “model city.”
- chairman of the world-renowned Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority during the administration of Pres. Fidel Ramos
- secretary of Tourism under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
- National Tourism Policy Act of 2009 or RA 9593
- Republic Act No. 9369: Automated Elections System to obviate cheating and post election controversies and protests that hound Philippine elections.
- Republic Act No. 9499 - Gordon's Veterans Bill: Filipino veterans will now be able to receive any form of benefit from any foreign government without losing the benefits given to them by the Philippine government.
- passage of the Automated Elections System or RA 9369.
- Chairman and Governor, Phil. National Red Cross (1986-present)
- advocates for the modernization of education in the Philippines
- PUTANGINA IBOTO NYO NA SYA ANO BA

CANDIDATE #9 TG Guingona
Party: LP
Main issues: anti-corruption in government, reconstruction of conflict-affected areas and to expedite the socio-economic development in Mindanao.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- two terms in the House of Representatives of the Philippines as the Representative of the Second District of Bukidnon.
- RA 9500: The University of the Philippines Charter of 2008
- RA 9497: The Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2008
- RA 9745: The Anti-torture Act of 2009
- RA 9996: The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Act of 2010
- RA 9576: An act strengthening the financial capabilities of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC)
- RA 10167: Anti-Money Laundering Act
- RA 10645: Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage for Senior Citizens (Co-Author)
- currently on Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon)
- expressed full support to the 2012 Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), including the creation of the Transition Commission as a step forward towards political stability and sustainable economic development in Mindanao

CANDIDATE #10 Risa Hontiveros
Party: Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party/Team PNoy
Main issues: Women's rights, anti-poverty, ntroduction of Divorce to the Philippines, Anti-Political Dynasties bill, Passage of Universal Health Care
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Actively campaigned for the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill in the 15th Congress.
- Secretary-General, Coalition of Peace
- earned a Nobel peace prize nomination for her work as chairwoman of the Government Panel’s Reciprocal Working Committee on Soci0-Economic Reforms in the Peace Talks with the National Democratic Fron from 1998-1999.
- Cheaper Medicines Law that lowers the cost of essential medicines by allowing parallel importation and compulsory licensing
- Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) Law that extends the old CARP Law as well as provides a program better suited to the needs of the farmers and the agrarian reform beneficiaries.
- Anti-Prostitution Bill that aims to look at prostitution as a symptom of inequitable and exploitative social structures and prostitutes
- Gender Balance Bill that aims to ensure women’s representation in all structures of governance
- Students' Rights and Welfare (STRAW) Bill that aims to promote and protect students' liberties at all levels and in both public and private school

CANDIDATE #11 Lorna Kapunan
Party: Aksyon party (of late former senator Raul Roco), supports Grace Poe and Francis Escudero.
Main Issues: empowerment of youth, education, environment
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- former legal counsel of Janet Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the pork barrel scam. Some of her former celebrity clients include basketball star James Yap, controversial doctor Hayden Kho and actress Rhian Ramos
- against privatization of education
- Corporate Secretary of A. Soriano Corporation since 1998

CANDIDATE #12 Princess Jacel Kiram
Party: UNA (Binay)
Main Issues: peace and unification of Filipinos, education, pursue Sulu Sultanate's claim over Sabah
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- daughter of the late Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.
- Fil-Muslim against the Bangsamoro Law, arguing that it must be inclusive to all
- in favor of tax reform, jobs, ASEAN Integration, FOI bill, modernization of military, disaster-risk reduction
- pushes for free highschool and elementary education, including books
- proposes a bill that will teach Philippine Constitution and all Philippine laws, memos, and resolutions in school

CANDIDATE #13 Panfilo Lacson
Party: independent
Main Issues: improve public facilities, modernize country's defenses, anti-crime
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- head the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) and to serve as Director-General of the Philippine National Police under Erap Estrada
- Republic Act No. 9160, as amended by Republic Act 9194, otherwise known as the Anti-Money Laundering Act
- Republic Act No. 9163, The National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001
- Republic Act No. 9166, An Act Increasing the Base Pay of the Members of the AFP
- Republic Act No. 9208, The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003
- Republic Act No. 9416, Anti-Cheating Act of 2007
- Republic Act No. 9484, The Philippine Dental Act of 2007
- Republic Act No. 9485, Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007
- Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (co-author)
- Republic Act No. 9189, otherwise known as the Absentee Voting Act (co-author)
- Republic Act No. 9287, otherwise known as the Anti-Jueteng and Illegal Numbers Game (co-author)
- Republic Act No. 9406, An Act Reorganizing the Public Attorney's Office (co-author)
- Sin Tax Reform Act (main author)
- Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR) with the mandate of unifying the efforts of government and other agencies involved in the rehabilitation and recovery efforts during Aquino until Feb 2015

CANDIDATE #14 Rey Langit
Party: UNA (Binay)
Main Issues: anti-poverty
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- chairman of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas-Metro Manila Chapter and is a member of the board of directors of the KBP-National.
- wants transparency and accountability in government, wants to establish a welfare fund for the families of Media men that are left destitute when the media person dies in the midst of performing his duties.

CANDIDATE #15 Mark Lapid
Party: LP / Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid
Main Issues: tourism
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- son of action star Lito Lapid
- former Governor of Pampanga (2004-2007), Pampanga was considered one of the top ten most productive provinces during his tenure
- head of the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza)
- supports same-sex marriage

CANDIDATE #16 Edu Manzano
Party: Partido Galing at Puso (Poe and Esucdero); also affiliated with Miriam Santiago and Bongbong Marcos' party
Main Issues: anti- “excessive taxation”, pro-education
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Vice Mayor of Makati City from 1998-2001
- first chairman of the Optical Media Board, a government agency tasked with combating optical media piracy from 2004 - 2009

CANDIDATE #17 Allan Montano
Party: UNA (Binay)
Main Issues: workers' interests
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- lawyer known for taking pro bono cases for free, volunteer labor arbiter
- wants to create a Security of Tenure (SOT) bill, which would have limited contractual labor to seasonal and non-core positions in a company.
- sits in tripartite dialogues and technical working groups responsible in crafting draft labor policies

CANDIDATE #18 Alma Moreno
Party: UNA (Binay)
Main Issues: women's rights, probably
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- actress
- more known for her awkward interview with Karen Davila than any concrete political platform to date

CANDIDATE #19 Isko Moreno
Party: PMP (Erap)
Main Issues: anti-poverty, pro-education
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- served three consecutive terms (nine years) as a councilor for Manila's first congressional district
- vice chairman of the Manila Historical and Heritage Commission
- current Vice Mayor of Manila

CANDIDATE #20 Getulio Napeñas
Party: UNA (Binay)
Main Issues: peace and order
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- retired police officer who served as commander of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF) from 2013 until 2015
- was blamed for Mamapasano incident by Aquino instead of Purisima, and sacked; accepted blame and retired
- wanted to provide justice for the 44 SAF commandos who were killed in January's botched Mamasapano anti-terror police operation.

CANDIDATE #21 Susan Ople
Party: Nacionalista Party
Main Issues: OFW rights, anti-poverty
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- former undersecretary with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the daughter of the late senator and longtime labor minister Blas Ople.
- wants modernization of OWWA, POEA, and the various Assistance-to-Nationals Units (ATNU) of embassies and consulates;
- wants passage of an anti-age discrimination at the workplace law to promote a level playing field and encourage a work environment that puts a premium on abilities rather than age;
- wants Unequivocal exemption by law of all OFWs from the payment of airport terminal fees and a complete accounting of non-refunded terminal fees paid by OFWs from February 1 to present;
- wants creation of a Victims' Assistance Program for Human Trafficking Survivors to enable them to "rebuild their lives, secure justice, and reintegrate successfully in their respective communities";
- wants SSS pension benefits hike, lower income taxes "especially for low-waged workers," and eliminate the Job-Order system in government.
- in favor of the creation of a "Department of OFWs" as well as a "separate Department on Maritime Affairs."

CANDIDATE #22 Manny Pacquiao
Party: UNA (Binay)
Main Issues: anti-poverty
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- congressman of the lone district of Sarangani
- wants to push for free public schools up to the college level and increased protection for Filipino workers overseas
- no laws passed during his tenure as Congressman; reported for work only 4 days in 2014
- renowned Filipino boxer

CANDIDATE #23 Cresente Paez
Party: LP
Main Issues: improvement on agricultural sector
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- COOP NATCCO Party List representative for 3 terms
- wants fertilizer subsidies, removal of irrigation fees, strengthen cooperatives

CANDIDATE #24 Samuel Pagdilao
Party: independent
Main Issues: health, energy, renewable resources
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Director General of the Philippine National Police (PNP) (34 years stint as police officer)
- served in the House of Representatives from 2013 to 2016
- Chief of Police of the Caloocan City Police Station from 1997 to 2001.
- representative of the Republic of the Philippines to the International Coalition Planning Center for Operation Iraqi Freedom in US Central Command Headquarters (April to November 2003)
- Pagdilao was the Spokesman and Chief of the Public Information Office of the PNP (2006-2007)
- former Chief of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)

CANDIDATE #25 Francis Pangilinan
Party: LP
Main Issues: improve agricultural sector, increase jobs
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- married to actress and television personality Sharon Cuneta
- first elected as Senate Majority Leader in 2004
- the Judicial Executive Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELAC) was the brainchild of Kiko Pangilinan, first proposed on the July 16–17, 2007 Manila Hotel Summit on Extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances in the Philippines
- ppointed as Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization - a Cabinet-level position under the Office of the President of the Philippines - by President Aquino III until Sept 2015

CANDIDATE #26 Jericho Petilla
Party: LP
Main Issues: health, energy and providing electricity
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- governor of Leyte from 2004 - 2012
- supported The Philippine Economic Zone Authority in approving the application of the Province of Leyte to convert the 6.9 hectares lot at Barangay Pawing, Palo, Leyte, where the developed and ready for operation Leyte Academic Center is located, into the Leyte Information Communication Technology Park.
- former Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) of the Philippines, resigned

CANDIDATE #27 Ralph Recto
Party: LP
Main Issues:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- married to Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto
- member of the House of Representatives representing the 4th District of Batangas from 1992 to 2001.
- Senator from 2001 to 2007, 2010 onwards
- appointed to head the National Economic and Development Authority, but resigned from his position in August 2009 in preparation to run for senator in the 2010 election
- committee chair for the Senate Ways and Means Committee, came under fire for diluting Sin Tax Bill, resigned
- wrote the EVAT tax bill
- RA 10653 - Increasing Tax Exemption Cap for 13th Month Pay and Bonuses (February 12, 2015)
- RA 10645 - Philhealth Coverage for All Senior Citizens (November 5, 2014)
- RA 10638 - Philippine National Railways Charter Extension (June 16, 2014)
- RA 10606 - Amendments to the National Health Insurance Act (June 19, 2013)
- RA 10533 - Enhancing the Philippine Basic Education System (K to 12 Program) (May 15, 2013)
- RA 10349 - Revised AFP Modernization Program (December 11, 2012)
- RA 10157 - Kindergarten Education Act (January 20, 2012)
- RA 9480 - General Tax Amnesty (May 24, 2007)
- RA 9400 - Amendments to BCDA (March 20, 2007)
- RA 9301 - Philippine Overseas Shipping Act (July 27, 2004)
- RA 9295 - Domestic Shipping Act (May 3, 2004)
- RA 9294 - Restoring the Tax Exemption of Offshore Banking Units (OBUs) and Foreign Currency Deposit Units (FCDUs) (April 28, 2004)
- RA 9178 - Barangay Micro Business Enterprises Act of 2002 (November 13, 2002)

CANDIDATE #28 Martin Romualdez
Party: UNA (Binay)
Main Issues: education, invest in tech to resolve traffic
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- cousin of Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez
- plans to renew fight for SSS pension hike
- wants more disaster-preparedness, pointing out Yolanda victims as his reasons
- President of the Philippine Constitution Association,
- incumbent Representative of the 1st District of Leyte
- Chairman of the Board for Equitable PCI Bank, as well as Director for several companies, among them Philippine Commercial International Bank, Equitable Card Network, EBC Investments, Inc., Equitable Savings Bank, PCI Leasing Corporation, and PCI Capital Corporation

CANDIDATE #29 Roman Romulo
Party: independent (supports Poe)
Main Issues: create a strong middle class by improving education and lowering tax rates
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- son of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and grand-nephew of Filipino statesman, Pulitzer Prize winner and first and only Filipino President of the United Nations General Assembly Carlos P. Romulo
- supports FOI bill
- Chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education
- authored Iskolar ng Bayan Law: a scholarship program open to all public high school students belonging to the top ten (10) of the graduating class
- promoting UNIFAST: a Student Financial Assistance Programs act
- authored over 150 bills

CANDIDATE #30 Dionisio Santiago
Party: independent (?)
Main Issues: anti-crime
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- the first chief of the Central Command based in Cebu City
- former chief of the Army’s Special Operations Command (Socom) and former concurrent head of the AFP’s Task Force Libra
- Former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief
- The OESPA alleged that Santiago pocketed P8 million in funds intended for the repair and renovation of a swimming pool at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City during his term of office; military recommended filing graft charges in 2005.

CANDIDATE #31 Tito Sotto
Party: NPC (National People's Coalition)
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- confirmed plagiarist, as attested by daughter of late US President Robert Kennedy
- anti-RH bill
- acting chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board on 4 July 2008
- vice mayor of Quezon City from 1988 to 1992
- became acting Minority Floor Leader after his political mentor Enrile is arrested over the pork barrel scam
- inserted provision on libel under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 or Anti-Cybercrime Law, making cyber- libel a jailable offense

CANDIDATE #32 Francis Tolentino
Party: People's reform party (Miriam Santiago), also supports Duterte
Main Issues: empowerment of local government units, disaster preparedness, and protection of women and children
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from 2010 to 2015
- appointed to the post of OIC Mayor of Tagaytay from 1986 to 1987 by former President Corazon Aquino, following the People Power Revolution. He ran unopposed in the 1995 elections as Mayor of Tagaytay and served for nine years from January 1995 to 2004
- relaunched the Pasig River Ferry System last April 2014
- chair of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival

CANDIDATE #33 Joel Villanueva
Party: People's reform party (Miriam Santiago), LP
Main Issues: employment and education
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) from 2010-2015
- three-term congressman from 2001-2010
- “Shoot for your Dream Program” which involves organizing exhibition games featuring Philippine Basketball Association Legends team dubbed as "Team Trabaho" as an awareness campaign to counter misconceptions that technical vocation are low-paying courses

CANDIDATE #34 Juan Miguel Zubiri
Party: independent
Main Issues: clean energy
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- representative representing the third district of Bukidnon for three consecutive terms
- announced his resignation from the Senate on August 3, 2011, following allegations of poll fraud during the Senate elections of 2007
- worked for the passage of RA 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008
- worked for passage of RA 9367 or the Biofuels Act of 2006.
- Senate of the Philippines Majority Leader, the youngest to held the the position since the First Congress.
- RA10068 – Organic Agriculture Act of 2010;
- RA 9147 – Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act;
- RA 10121 – Philippine Disaster Risk Management Act;
- RA 9165 – Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002;
- RA 9679 – the Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009 (Pag-IBIG Fund);
- RA 9997 – the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Act of 2009

Some candidates don't have any platforms or issues that they talk about, at least on the internet, so some platforms will be rather bare. Some bills will also have multiple authors.

Vote wisely.