Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

12 hopefuls face San Beda in senatorial debate

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Twelve Senatorial candidates accepted the challenge of facing San Beda University’s “Tayo The Senatorial Debate” on Wednesday. In attendance were the following hopefuls:• Fisherman Ronnel Arambulo• Environmentalist Roy Cabonegro• Former Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Teddy Casiño• ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro• Evironmentalist David D’ Angelo• Lawyer Angelo De Alban• Labor leader Ka Leody De Guzman• Labor leader and lawyer Luke Espiritu• Valenzuela City Rep. Eric Martinez• Former Gabriela Womens&#x27; Party Rep. Liza Maza• Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Chairperson Danilo Ramos• Transport leader Mar ValbuenaThe debate was held in partnership with ABS-CBN and one of the hosts was reporter and news anchor Zen Hernandez.The event was organized by The Repvblic, the student organization of San Beda’s Department of Political Science. All senatorial aspirants were invited. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/12/12-senatorial-candidates-lumahok-sa-debate-ng-san-beda-university-2011">12 senatorial candidates lumahok sa debate ng San Beda University</a></div>The first question thrown at candidates—What’s something new that you can bring to the usual political landscape? “Ang mga bago na madadala natin sa senado ay yung oomph! Yung oomph!,” Espiritu emphatically said.“At sinasabi ni Marcos na kami daw ay pinahatid lang ng suka tapos nagkaroon na raw kami ng COC. Subukan lang ni Bongbong Marcos makapasok kami sa Senado, subukan niya lang, gugulong ang ulo ng lahat ng mga political dynasty. Gugulong ang ulo ng lahat ng Marcos senators at Duterte senators!”Casiño, meanwhile, said, “Wala akong nanay na senador. Wala akong kapatid na Presidente. Wala akong magulang o kaanak na mayor, governor, councilor, barangay captain. Sa panahon po na naghahari ang political dynasty kailangan natin ng kandidato, kailangan natin ng senador na hindi bahagi ng political dynasty.”On the issue of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, most of the candidates asked about it said they supported the move except for Martinez.“Nasa emergency na po tayo sa problema natin sa kalikasan. We cannot afford bad governance. Therefore, ituloy ang mga kaso, ituloy ang impeachment. Kritikal ngayon na ang  iboboto ninyong senador ay manininindigan sa impeachment,” Cabonegro remarked.Martinez answered, “Records would show I did not sign the impeachment complaint against the vice president…. Yung political stability po ay napakahalaga ng ating development. This would be a vicious, a vicious cycle ng gantihan sa pulitika.”On the matter of the West Philippine Sea, candidates stressed that it is part of the country’s territory. They also advocated for national security.“Ang West Philippine Sea ay sa atin, constitutional right natin na pangalanan ang West Philippine Sea kaya yung traydor, hindi ka puwedeng maging senador!” D’Angelo said.  “Para palakasin yung ating national security, dapat ay modernization ng ating sandatahang panglakas na hindi nakaasa doon sa ibang mga bansa,” Arambulo stated.There were those who supported the controversial comprehensive sexuality education program.“Kailangan ang comprehensive sexuality education mula pa sa bata hanggang doon sa 19 years old na ating ina-address kaugnay ng teenage pregnancy. Kailangan na marecognize natin ang karapatan ng mga LGBTQI community doon sa kanilang sekswalidad,” Maza said.  Others commented on the price of private education and minimum qualifications of a senatorial candidate. “Matindi yung krisis natin sa edukasyon na kailangan ang mga public at private ay magtulungan,” Castro replied.“Nangangailangan tayo ng at least 6% nung ating Gross Domestic Product para masolusyonan natin ang lahat ng mga problema o kung di man lahat ay ma-minimize yung problema sa edukasyon.” <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/10/wilbert-lee-withdraws-from-2025-senate-race-0931">Halalan 2025: Wilbert Lee withdraws from Senate race</a></div>“Kinakailangan galing sa hanay ng mga lider ng masa ang mga kandidato dahil ang lider ng masa ang totoong nakakaramdam ng problema ng sambayanan,” De Guzman said. Students also had the chance to directly ask candidates on various topics such as the plan to phase out the EDSA busway, ending corruption, and red tagging. “Tutol tayo na tanggalin ang EDSA bus lane. Bukod sa MRT, inaugment ito para masolusyonan yung kakulangan ng tren, ng bagon. Ngayon gusto nilang tanggalin na dapat nga i-develop pa natin,” Valbuena said. “Tutol ako na i-privatize ito.”According to De Alban, “Ang pinakasagot sa corruption isa lang po. Taasan natin ang budget ng husgado para dumami ang korte, hindi namamatay ang mga witness, bibilis po ang kaso, makakalaboso ang corrupt.” “Unang-unang magiging proposed bill ni Ka Daning, repeal Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020 and Executive Order Number 70 creation of NTF-ELCAC. Zero budget. Dahil ang red tagging po ay napakapeligroso sa magsaaka, sa’ting lahat,” Ramos said.The candidates views also varied on the issue of same-sex marriage, K to 12, abortion, and federalism, among others. It was important for the San Beda University, particularly its students, to personally scrutinize aspirants.“I believe that more than 50% of the voters at the moment, registered voters, are from the Gen Z and millennials. I think it is important for the youth, actually, to watch this Senatorial debate in order to be informed,” Shawne Kloie Lim, President of The Repvblic, said. For Dr. Marvin Reyes, prefect of student sctivities of the College of Arts and Sciences, “I think napaka-importante talaga ng presence. So kung hindi ka umattend, parang it’s either parang umaatras ka sa idea na hindi sa hindi ka aattend, kungdi baka hindi mo kaya.”<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/10/tulfo-brothers-go-sotto-top-senatorial-bets-in-january-pulse-1151">Tulfo brothers, Go, Sotto top Senatorial bets in January: Pulse</a></div>

Twelve Senatorial candidates accepted the challenge of facing San Beda University’s “Tayo The Senatorial Debate” on Wednesday.

Twelve Senatorial candidates accepted the challenge of facing San Beda University’s “Tayo The Senatorial Debate” on Wednesday.