Senate bets in admin’s Alyansa vow no negative campaigning
SWS SURVEY. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. introduces the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas Senate slate at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City in thsi file photo taken on Sept. 26, 2024). (PNA photo by Ruth Abbey Carlos)
LAOAG, Ilocos Norte — Senatorial candidates of the administration’s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas have vowed to refrain from doing negative campaigning, noting that their focus would be on delivering what kind of platform they can offer.
ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo in a press briefing here said the people are tired of politicians quarreling — that is why the candidates from Alyansa would prefer to just introduce themselves to the public.
“The Filipino people are tired, pagod na po sa bangayan dito, bangayan doon. Diyos ko po, November pa ho ‘yan, last year pa. Hanggang ngayon ba? Ang mission lang po ng mga kandidato dito sa Alyansa is to present ourselves na makita sana ng mga tao ‘yong performance ng bawat isa,” Tulfo said after candidates were asked about negative campaigning.
(The Filipino people are tired, they are tired of politicians quarreling. My God, this started last November last year. Is this still ongoing? The only mission of candidates here in the Alyansa is to present ourselves to the people based on our performance.)
“‘Yong mga dating senador, nagtrabaho din po yan, lahat po sila. Alam naman ho natin na nakagawa ng mga batas, meron tayong kasama ditong mayor, nakita niyo naman ‘yong lugar niya pinaganda. Nakita niyo naman po ‘yong ating secretary ng DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government), may mga nagawa din po,” he added.
(The former senators worked hard also, all of them. We all know that they were able to make laws, we have an incumbent mayor here, you saw how she was able to improve her city. We have a former secretary of DILG, who was able to do something also.)
Former Sen. Panfilo Lacson also said that the golden rule should be applied in this case.
“Ako, two words: golden rule. Eh kung ayaw mong gawin sa iyo ng kapwa mo, ‘wag mo ring gawin. So walang idudulot na maganda ang negative campaigning, rise on your own merit, gamitin mo ‘yong sarili mong track record, ‘yong experience at ‘yong mga gagawin mo sa halip na manira ng iba,” Lacson noted.
(For me, two words: golden rule. If you do not want others to do it to you, don’t do it too. Negative campaigning would not do anything good, rise on your own merit, use your own track record, your experience, and what you will do instead of destroying another candidate’s reputation.)
Alyansa campaign manager and Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco meanwhile said that they would focus on informing the people how candidates would help President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. program for the country.
“Wala, walang negative tactics. Ang importante is ipaalam lang doon sa ating mga kababayan kung papaano ang ating mga kandidato ay makakatulong sa plataporma ng ating Presidente, na ang tanging layunin is maibangon ang ating mga kababayang Pilipino,” Tiangco said.
(No, there would be no negative tactics. What’s important is that we let the people know how our candidates will be able to help the platform of our President, whose only goal is to improve the state of Filipinos.)
Eight Alyansa bets were present for the press briefing here in Laoag — Tulfo, Lacson, former Senate president Tito Sotto, former Interior secretary Benhur Abalos, Senator Francis Tolentino, former senator Manny Pacquiao, Makati Mayor Abby Binay, and Deputy Speaker Camille Villar.
The four remaining candidates — Senators Imee Marcos, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, and Bong Revilla — went straight to the proclamation rally at the Centennial Arena in Laoag.
Earlier, several of the Alyansa bets were asked what bill they would prioritize should they land a Senate seat by May 2025. In response, Lacson said he has always submitted proposed exemption of government officials from Republic Act No. 1405 or the Bank Secrecy Act.
READ: Lacson bill exempts public servants from Bank Secrecy Law
Sotto meanwhile said that he will propose bills that would restrict ‘fake news’ and institutionalize a 14th month pay for all employees. Binay said that she will push for tax exemption for the 13th month — and if Sotto’s bill would be approved — for 14th month incentives.
Abalos said that he will suggest amendments to the Local Government Code of 1991, as there are some local government units (LGUs) who cannot afford to build schools or hospitals without support from the national government.
READ: Alyansa to push bank secrecy waiver, 14th month pay for all if elected
There is a huge chance that the majority of the Alyansa bets would make it to the Senate, based on recent surveys. Reports from Pulse Asia released on Monday showed that 10 of the administration bets are on the top 14 slots, with Tulfo leading the way at the first spot.
READ: Rep. Tulfo, 9 others from admin slate in Senate ‘Magic 12’ – Pulse Asia
Another survey, this time from OCTA Research, showed that 11 of the top 14 candidates belong to Alyansa.
