Article by: Kandhalvi M. Asaali, Robert Kobe T. Garcia , and Kristin Clarisse H. Mateo
Graphics by: Aliza Belle C. Dayao and Andreah Faye G. Lapinid
A week from now, Filipinos will be casting their ballots for the local and national elections. This includes choosing a new Vice President (VP), the second-highest governing position in the country.
For the May 2022 elections, there are nine VP aspirants, namely Buhay Partylist Representative and House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza, Former Member of the Philippines House of Representatives Walden Bello, Rizalito David, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Manny SD Lopez, Dr. Willie Ong, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Carlos Serapio, and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto.
Getting to know these aspirants before the election is vital so that voters can elect the right candidate who will spend the next six years serving the nation.
Atienza, Lito (PROMDI)
Buhay Partylist Representative and House Deputy Speaker Jose "Lito" Livioko Atienza Jr., is the vice-presidential running-mate of Sen. Manny Pacquaio under the Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives or Probinsya Muna Development Initiative (PROMDI).
Being in the political scene for many years, the 80-year-old vice presidential candidate is known for helping in the renovation and restoration of the country’s capital through the Revive Manila program. Other key achievements include foundations for senior citizens and women, namely “Mahal Ko si Lolo, Mahal Ko si Lola” in 1976 and “Kababaihang Maynila” (The Women of Manila) in 1984, as well as a childcare center for abandoned and abused infants called “Home for the Angels” in 1992.
Atienza is an advocate of pro-life, opposing death penalty, birth control, abortion, euthanasia, and same-sex marriage. He aims for a good government and is anti-corruption as well as a stricter implementation of clearances on borders and the imported products.
Read more about Atienza on Vote Pilipinas, the official voter information campaign partner of the Commission on Elections : https://votepilipinas.com/candidate/atienza-lito.html
Bello, Walden (Partido Lakas ng Masa)
Known as an active member of the anti-Marcos movement, Walden Bello is a democratic socialist and activist. He is the vice-presidential running tandem of Leodegario "Ka Leody" Quitain de Guzman.
The political analyst also authored and co-authored 25 books on global and national issues. He received the “Right Livelihood Award” for educating the public about the effects of corporate globalization and the alternatives for it to be implemented.
Bello campaigns for the demilitarization of the pandemic response, workers’ rights and welfare, climate management, security, and income equality.
Find out more about Bello on Vote Pilipinas, the official voter information campaign partner of the Commission on Elections: https://votepilipinas.com/candidate/walden-bello.html
David, Rizalito (Democratic Party of the Philippines)
Rizalito Yap David is a 60-year-old pro-life advocate, known for his long-espoused stances on opposing the “anti-life” provisions of the 2012 Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act including same-sex marriage, divorce, and abortion.
David pushes for the revival of faith-based governance and policy formation by creating a national commission on moral regeneration and cultural restoration. He also urges the government to come up with strategies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic based on scientific knowledge and informed consent of the public. He campaigns for anti-corruption in the government and an education system that cultivates personal values, interpersonal affection, and abstraction skills.
Check David’s complete profile here on Vote Pilipinas, the official voter information campaign partner of the Commission on Elections: https://votepilipinas.com/candidate/david-rizalito.html
Duterte, Sara (Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats)
Sara Duterte-Carpio, the daughter of current President Rodrigo Duterte, is the running mate of the presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. She is known to be the first female and youngest mayor of Davao City.
Some of her achievements are clearing Davao City’s billion-peso debt as well as providing medical assistance and allowing zero-billing for patients through the Lingap Para sa Mahirap program.
The 43-year-old VP candidate aims to shift the government system to federalism to veer from the centralized “Imperial Manila”. She emphasizes regional and intensified provincial development, improvement of healthcare, mandatory military service for Filipinos aged 18 years old to strengthen national defense, and emergency response training.
Read more about Duterte on Vote Pilipinas, the official voter information campaign partner of the Commission on Elections: https://votepilipinas.com/candidate/duterte-sara.html
Lopez, Manny SD (Workers and Peasants Party)
Emmanuel “Manny” Sto. Domingo Lopez is a 63-year-old economist and management professional.
The VP aspirant headed the Empowered People’s Initiative and Reform Movement Alliance or ePIRMa for charter change as well as the 2.22 Coalition to seek a “transition government”.
Lopez promotes a three-pronged economic recovery plan including the creation of a New Omnibus Investment Code, passing of a bankruptcy law, and low-interest loan offers. He also pushes for a system change and structural reform, agricultural reform, disaster management, and education reform.
Know more about Lopez on Vote Pilipinas, the official voter information campaign partner of the Commission on Elections: https://votepilipinas.com/candidate/lopez-manny.html
Ong, Doc Willie (Aksyon Demokratiko)
Dr. Willie Ong, an internal medicine specialist and cardiologist, is the running-mate of Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso.
The 58-year-old vice presidentiable aims to prioritize the improvement of the country's health system, considering the current COVID-19 pandemic. Following his profession, his medical-focused platform ensures a better healthcare system, which includes establishing a cancer center and a heart, dialysis, lung, and kidney center in all public hospitals. He also pushes for better pay for health workers and establishment of more hospitals in the country.
Find out more about Ong on Vote Pilipinas, the official voter information campaign partner of the Commission on Elections: https://votepilipinas.com/candidate/ong-willie.html
Pangilinan, Kiko (Liberal Party)
Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is a 58-year-old incumbent senator and president of the Liberal Party. His presidential running-mate is VP Leni Robredo.
The long-serving senator was the sponsor and author of the Amending the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act, Anti-Domestic Violence Bill, Anti-Money Laundering Act, and The Rent Control Law. He was also the co-author of The Filipino Oversees Absentee-Voting Act. Aside from that, Sen. Pangilinan was able to increase the budget for agriculture from 2010 to 2013, lower the rice inflation rate from 14.4% to 1.10% in 2014, and save national funds by importing rice at a low price.
As part of the agricultural sector, Sen. Pangilinan mainly campaigns for food security by lowering market prices of food and improvement of the agricultural sector through the increased support and revenue of farmers and strengthened local production.
Check Pangilinan’s complete profile here on Vote Pilipinas, the official voter information campaign partner of the Commission on Elections: https://votepilipinas.com/candidate/pangilinan-francis.html
Serapio, Carlos (Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi)
Carlos G. Serapio is a lawyer who focuses on cross-border transactions between Japan and the Philippines.
Serapio pushes for federalist platform and people empowerment. He promotes localized and indigenous approaches to treating COVID symptoms, such as the disproven ‘suob’ method, and virgin coconut oil.
Read more about Serapio on Vote Pilipinas, the official voter information campaign partner of the Commission on Elections: https://votepilipinas.com/candidate/serapio-carlos.html
Sotto, Vicente Tito (Nationalist People’s Coalition)
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Castelo Sotto III is the VP running-mate of Senator Panfilo “Ping” Morena Lacson Sr.
The Senate President authored the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Family Courts Act of 1997, and Kasambahay Law. He also co-authored The Anti-Hazing Law of 2018.
The 73-year-old VP candidate campaigns for the current administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign but with a “holistic approach”. Moreover, Sotto pushes for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict but will not tolerate irresponsible officials. He believes in reforming the budget system to fix most government issues through Lacson’s proposed Senate Bill No. 23 or the proposed Budget Reform for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) Act.
Know more about Sotto on Vote Pilipinas, the official voter information campaign partner of the Commission on Elections: https://votepilipinas.com/candidate/sotto-tito.html
With nine candidates vying for the vice-presidential seat, the stakes are higher than ever. Being more than just a title, it is also an obligation for these candidates to be much more prepared to be the next leader behind the President. Thus, on May 9, everyone should vote for a leader whose strategic platforms and advocacies are beneficial for all Filipinos, and whose mission is to serve without bias.