Tapos na ang Boksing – Duterte 34%, Poe 22%

RELATED Article – Fearless forecast Duterte 38%, Poe 27% for the Win #Duterte2016 #Duterte #StarWarsbiopic dutertehttps://balitangbalita.com/2016/04/21/fearless-forecast-duterte-38-win-grace-27-at-second/

Duterte widens lead in latest ABS-CBN-Pulse Asia survey
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte widened his lead over his rivals in the latest Pulse Asia  presidential preference survey done for ABS-CBN.

A total of 34 percent chose Duterte in the survey conducted from April 12 to 17 on 4,000 registered voters. It was two percent more from the last ABS CBN survey done from April 5 to 10.

The survey done nationwide had a margin of error of +/- 1.5 percent.

His closest rival, Senator Grace Poe got 22 percent, a loss of three percentage points from the last survey. Duterte now has a 12-point lead over Poe from the previous seven points.

Vice President Jejomar Binay lost one percent, ending up with 19 percent voter preference, while the figure for former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas was unchanged at 18 percent.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was in last place with two percent.

 

Fearless Forecast: Duterte 38% Win, Grace 27% at Second

Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte would be the next Philippine President, winning by 4 million votes, as predicted by Google, Facebook and 7 – 11 convenience stores.

It is all over but the counting. Duterte will get 38% of the total votes cast with 14 million votes. Grace Poe will settle for second with 10 million votes representing 27%. Vice President Binay will get 6 million votes representing 17% while perpetual poll survey tail-ender Mar Roxas will get 5 million votes and 15%.

The results would put traditional survey firms to shame since they predict on the basis of small sample sizes (1,200 or 1,800 or 2,400 or 4,000 or 5,200) and justifying their results because of their use of scientific methods. However, in the age of the Internet and social media, resorting to tiny sample sizes would inevitably lead to less than accurate predictions. The way to go should be to compile data the way Google, Facebook and, in a less precise way, 7 – 11, generate huge numbers. The so-called advantage of the traditional polling is its methodology of choosing respondents but this system falls flat on its face due to extremely small sample sizes (in the few thousands). Gathering data from MILLIONS of people will obviously increase the ACCURACY of the projected election results. None of the STUPID plus or minus 2% blah blah which effectively puts survey results in the STATISTICAL TIE territory whenever candidates are bunched up and within striking distance of each other. When MILLIONS of respondents are polled, the plus or minus margin of error is reduced to an INSIGNIFICANT number, thus there will be no epidemic of STATISTICAL TIES which is our common fare (until Duterte pulled away).

Actually, we should attribute more intelligence to our candidates. Grace Poe said “habang may buhay, may pagasa” (there is hope as long as one is still alive). That comment does not exude a great chance at victory. At its best, it means that she knows that she is behind and must work double time to catch up. VP Binay said he would win by 4 million votes. Obviously he has access to a wider network of troops on the ground who are in a better position to assess the national pulse. In truth, he is in the know that the 2016 Presidential election WINNER would win by 4 MILLION votes. He just twisted the story a little bit to make it appear as if HE would be the winner when DEEP IN HIS HEART, he already knows that VICTORY will not be his. He deliberately presented a different winner (himself) so as not to DEMORALIZE his supporters. Conceding DEFEAT at this early stage would PANIC his campaign since it would be everyone to himself (jumping ship time, junking season). Mar Roxas, on the other hand, was already THANKING his supporters at Club Filipino. Detractors said it was a LOYALTY CHECK but it looked more like a LAST HURRAH, giving it the good old Ateneo High School ONE BIG FIGHT ( Win or lose, this the school we choose). It was Mar’s way of saying that there is still (political) life after two consecutive DEFEATS (for VP in 2010 and  an impending one for President in 2016). In a public statement, Presidential candidate Mar Roxas stated that he would be the Flavor of the Month in May 2016 (meaning he will FINALLY win, not just a survey but the election) which could mean he is banking on a MIRACLE (of the Hocus PCOS type?) or related DIVINE INTERVENTION of the Deus ex machina type (this phrase was taken up in his Ateneo High School Second Year English Literature classbiopic duterte). In other words, Mar Roxas insiders already know the score which is why they are holding back the release of funds. Anyway, less than 20 days before the elections, this blog is already CALLING the LANDSLIDE winner and that is Davao City Mayor Duterte. CHANGE IS COMING. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

#Duterte2016 #MarRoxas #GracePoe #JojoBinay #Halalan2016 #PhilippineElections2016

 

 

 

P-Noy Nalalapit Na ang Araw ng Pagtutuos

SHARE SHARE SHARE ‪Viral 2015 post  #‎Duterte2016‬ ‪#‎NasaanAngPangulo‬ ‪#‎ZeroVotes4LP‬‪#‎ZeroVotes4Mar‬ ‪#‎Justice4SAF44‬ ‪#‎MamasapanoMassacre‬ #DAP #PDAF #CoronaImpeachmentBriberyCase ‪#‎AlDub‬‪#‎AlDubNation‬ ‪#‎YayaDub‬ ‪#‎AlDubLawyer‬ ‪#‎NeriColmenares2016‬‪#‎SendNeri2Senate‬ ‪#‎SSSPensionHikeNow‬ ‪#‎WalangInuurungan‬‪#‎FighterNgBayan‬ ‪#‎BayanOSaril‬i ‪#‎BayanMuna‬ ‪#‎BayanMunaPartyList‬ Like Like Like —–>>>>> Traydor Sa BAYAN  pnoy kulong 2016

Duterte Pulling Away, Poised for VICTORY

Bold Prediction: Duterte to win the Presidency

Mayor Duterte (32%) now has a 7% lead against Senator Grace Poe (25%). Barring ANOTHER self-inflicted public relations disaster of the Pope insult and rape comment types, the Davao City Mayor should now consolidate his forces since the Presidency is now HIS TO LOSE, meaning only a MAJOR FUMBLE can deny him a Palace stay.

To show how popular Digong is, here is an example of an apology poster posted in a Duterte Facebook fan page.

SHARE SHARE SHARE – Viral Post. Maraming salamat po. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas. https://www.facebook.com/DuterteMMDM/photos/a.1494033187560202.1073741828.1494024704227717/1534475903515930/?type=3&theater 1,306,669 people reached, 15,059 shares, 21 k Likes, 344 comments. 16 hours after posting. Like Like Like —–>>>>>https://www.facebook.com/DuterteMMDM Note: This Duterte parallel support group has 20 MILLION members in FB groups.

Four hours after the SHARE SHARE SHARE message was posted, the people reached has now moved up to 1,700,000. That is 20 hours after original apology poster was published.du 1 m reached

Mar Roxas STUPID statement on Hong Kong weak attendance

Mar Hong Kong Rally NILANGAW

Dinumog ang Hong Kong rally ni Digong na naging panauwin ang Mocha Girls. Hindi nakarating si Mayor Duterte. NILANGAW naman ang rally ni Mar Roxas maski pa andoon sha. Sa malas, nakunan pa si Mar ng larawan kung saan mukha shang malalim ang iniisip at nagmumunimuni. Sabi ng iba, parang TALUNAN na ang dating ni Mar. Anyway nag isyu naman si Mar ng pahayag na QUALITY daw ang habol nila at hindi QUANTITY. Tama naman ang sinabi nya sa maraming pagkakataon. Ngunit para sa isang kandidato na laging KULELAT maari ding isipin ng mga mamamayan na talagang KAKAUNTI ang taga suporta nya kaya malamang MATALO sha sa nalalapit na halalan sa May 9, 2016.mar HK quality

https://balitangbalita.com/2016/04/16/duterte-has-20-million-facebook-group-members/   Read the SECRET why Duterte dominates Facebook.

https://balitangbalita.com/2016/04/18/duterte-bad-joke-or-black-prop-can-not-derail-digong-victory/ Read how Duterte would win in spite of this latest fumble.

https://balitangbalita.com/2016/02/15/mar-roxas-kulelat-pa-rin/ Read why Mar Roxas is always at the bottom of the pile.

https://balitangbalita.com/2016/03/22/poe-and-duterte-statistical-tie-for-first-grace-going-down-digong-moving-up/ Read how Duterte is moving up the charts and pulling away while Poe is falling down.

 

 

 

 

Kim Ilagan Endorses Mayor Duterte

SHARE SHARE SHARE — Kim Ilagan (commercial and car show model) LIKE LIKE LIKE —–>>>>> https://www.facebook.com/KimIlaganPage LIKE LIKE LIKE —–>>>>> c kimKim Ilagan
March 26
‪#‎DuterteParaSaPagbabago‬ ikaw sinong presidente mo ? 👍🏻👈🏻🙌🏻😂pero kung gusto mo talaga ng pagbabago, SIMULAN MO SA SARILI MO👍🏻😊😉
! Kung gusto nyong mangyare sa Pilipinas ang kung ano mang kaayusan ng pamamahala sa Davao iboto natin sya pero ang lahat ng ito ay hindi lang sa kanya kailangan ang ating pakikiisa at kooperasyon upang mapatupad nya ang lahat ng yan dahil kung mag isa lang syang kikilos walang mangyayare! Ang kaayusan ng isang bansa ay hindi lang sa pinuno nakasalalay kundi sa mga mamamayang kabilang dito! 🙌🏻😍

 

 

RELATED STORY: #KimIlagan

2015 IN REVIEW – KIM ILAGAN PHOTOS TOP IN FACEBOOK GROUPS

https://balitangbalita.com/2015/12/30/2015-in-review-kim-ilagan-photos-top-in-facebook-groups/

 

In 2015, car show and commercial model Kim Ilagan dominated several Facebook groups with one million members each. Her photos appear/appeared in banner posts and pinned posts thus getting more views. She has more than a hundred thousand Likes in her personal Facebook account. She is also an admin in the FB page called Car Show Models.  https://www.facebook.com/CarShowModels

Example of Facebook group where Kim gets prominent attention.

kim summer

kim 2015

https://www.facebook.com/groups/lF.lB.MostWanted a closed group with 1.8 million members

Kim Ilagan personal FB fan page

https://www.facebook.com/KimIlaganPage

DUTERTE: Bad Joke or Black Prop CAN NOT DERAIL Digong Victory

Sabit nanaman si Digong sa isang maling pagpapatawa. Eka ng POLITICALLY INCORRECT. Isang panggagahasa ay hindi nya binigyan ng tamang pagrespeto bagkos kabaliktaran ang pagtrato nya dito. Mali. Masagwa. Piyesta nanaman ang kangyang mga katunggali. Gaya ng pagmura niya sa Santo Papa, tumatanggap si Digong ng matinding pagbatikos. Pero dahil nalusutan nya ang POPE TRAFFIC JOKE, itong panibagong insidente ay lilipas din. Yung patawa nya laban sa Santo Papa ay nangyari sa UMPISA palang ng kanyang pagtanggap na tumakbo bilang Presidente. Number 4 palang sha sa mga survey noon kasi nga atras abante ang mga kilos at pananalita nya kaya ng lumagpas ang last day ng filing of his Certificate of Candidacy (October 16, 2015) nadismaya ang maraming tao. Nuon namang nagsubstitute sha bago ang huling araw ng pagpalit ng kandidato (December 10, 2015), natuwa naman ang kanyang mga tagasuporta. Nagulantang ang mga kakampi at kalaban ni Digong sa pagbanat nya sa Simbahang Katolika at ang pagmura nya sa Papa. Joke lang naman daw yon. Nasalba si Digong ng Facebook sapagkat nagkaroon sha ng plataporma kung saan sha nakasagot sa madaling panahon. Bagamat bugbog sha sa MAINSTREAM MEDIA, mas naging MAPAGPATAWAD ang netizens sa social media.

Ngayong number 1 na si Mayor Duterte sa lahat ng survey, hindi na sha kayang pabagsakin pa. Maging pangit na pananalita nya o INSENSITIVE STATEMENT o BAD JOKE o BLACK PROPAGANDA galing sa kanyang mga kalaban, nasasanay na ang mga botante na si Digong ay hindi isang santo (inaamin naman nya ito) at may kakayanang sirain ang kanyang sarila sa pamamagitan ng mali o bastos na pananalita. Alam na ng lahat yon. Kakampi man nya o kalaban, batid na nila yon. Ang tanong nalang ay kung siya pa rin ang pipiliin sa harap ng kangyang mga kakulangan. Sa aming pananaw, dahil sha lang ang nakikitang may KONKRETONG PROGRAMA (kurapsyon, krimen at droga) at KAKAYANAN para maisapatupad ito, sha pa rin ang IBOBOTO ng maraming tao.  2016 3 desperado

Duterte has 20 MILLION Facebook Group Members

SHARE SHARE SHARE – Bold Prediction: Duterte 2016 – Facebook will determine the NEXT PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT

https://duterte2016.wordpress.com/2015/12/31/facebook-could-decide-the-next-philippine-president-in-2016/

Presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is now FIRMLY in the LEAD in all three major survey firms (SWS, Pulse Asia and Laylo) and he is now pulling away from former front runner Senator Grace Poe. Social media is now credited for his PHENOMENAL RISE and SUCCESS. Significantly, Senator Grace Poe, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Liberal Party standard bearer former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas basically IGNORED campaigning through the Internet (predominantly Facebook). The obvious reason is that they have so much cash that they can pour on mainstream media (radio, TV and newspapers. In the Fcaebook front, all three Duterte opponents make use of the term BOOST (sponsored post or paid advertisement) to get their message across while the RESOURCE DEFICIENT Duterte campaign relies heavily on a pool of volunteers (mostly self-appointed) to spread the Digong version of the Gospel (with apologies to the Pope).

Now it can be told. Among the many parallel groups supporting the Presidential bid of the Davao City Mayor is the low profile, and definitely CASH STRAPPED Metro Manila Duterte Movement (MMDM) which has been appointed by the Davao City/Mindanao group called Mayor Rody Roa Duterte National Executive and Coordinating Council (MRRD NECC) as its chapter organization in the National Capital Region. MMDM is so DIRT POOR that it can not even provide volunteer identification cards, stickers, bollers, wall posters, calendars, tarps and streamers. The only propaganda materials they never seem to run out of are single sheet (4 pages when folded in the middle) comic “books” produced using low tech mimeo machines (sorry, no offset machine available). It goes without saying that contrary to the Mar Roxas full color editions flooding barangay halls, the MMDM comics only come out in black and white (in other words, single color).

However, the MMDM has 20 MILLION Facebook group members in its arsenal which explains why most Filipino Facebook account holders always seem to be inundated by Duterte campaign posters in their news feed, personal walls (shared by their FB friends) and favorite fan pages (either as admin posts or supporter comments). Since social media is actually more effective as a DEMOLITION TOOL, the use of the Duterte 20 MILLION FB group member platform commands a strong presence which has been used and can be used for focused or targeted responses (take note, Digong always wins a tit-for-tat exchange against Mar Roxas and Jojo Binay, mainly because there are more Digong supporters online ready to pounce on the VP and/or the former Senator). The Roxas, Binay and Poe sponsored posts mostly appear as contrived, stale and dated since they have to undergo lots of centralized office analysis in focus group discussions and they make use of photographs and posters that need time to prepare. Duterte posters are usually independent contributions made by individuals so that a number of times a day, a few of their products could achieve VIRAL status with everyone SHARING the informative, interesting, funny or INSULTING MEMES. Being fast on the gun (pardon the pun) in terms of a quick propaganda response gives Digong a real competitive advantage. Coupled with his 20 MILLION FB group members, Digong seems UNSTOPPABLE at this stage of the campaign.

Note: Facebook says there are 40 MILLION accounts from the Philippines. This means that MMDM alone has the eyes of half of the total Philippine FB accounts on any given day. Obviously there are lots of other Duterte organizations and unorganized supporters out there.

#Duterte2016 #Duterte #MarRoxas #GracePoe #JojoBinay

https://duterte2016.wordpress.com/2016/01/02/26896-facebook-shares-respond-to-duterte-appeal-for-help/

fb du30 king

Marcos BUGBOG naman sa BACOLOD

Clarizza Dagatan, secretary-general of Karapatan-Negros, said they are calling on the people not to give Marcos a chance to return to power.

“He has no remorse over the human rights abuses committed by his family during the Martial Law,” she said.

 

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

By

Marchel Espina  (SunStar)carmma bacolod
Support, protest greet Marcos in Bacolod

THE visit of Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Bacolod City on Tuesday, April 12, drew mixed reactions — he was greeted by both warm welcome and protests as he campaigned to become the country’s next vice president.

Marcos was joined by his wife Louise and son Zandro when he met with Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., Mayor Monico Puentevella and representatives from sugar-planting groups.

He first met with Navarra at the Bishop’s House.

Navarra said his meeting with Marcos was “very cordial and (we exchanged) pleasantries,” and they did not talk about politics.

“We wish him all the best. I told him to keep cool and treat everybody as his friend. (And) maintain his desire to serve the people if ever he gets elected,” the bishop said.

At the Provincial Capitol, Marcos had a 20-minute meeting with Marañon, who complemented the senator on the way he handled himself during the vice presidential debate on Sunday.

Marañon said that Marcos was very patient. “I admire how you handled it and kept your cool,” he told the senator, who replied that he expected the tirades and that he prepared for it.

Marcos, who is leading in vice presidential surveys, is hoping to sway Marañon, a staunch supporter of the administration candidates, to his side.

“We’ve known each other for quite a long time. He knows me as a person. Maganda naman ang pagkakakilala niya sa akin. Whether or not (the governor will support me), we will continue to campaign,” the senator said.

Marcos added that politics is a game of addition, “we’d like many people to join us in our campaign. And we’d be very pleased if all the leaders will also support and help us.”

He noted that Filipino voters were quite independent and that he feels he has a connection with them.

On Marcos’ leading the surveys, Marañon said the senator has to maintain his lead because his numbers are surging fast, as he cited the case of vice president and presidential candidate Jejomar Binay, who initially led the surveys, but is now at the third spot.

“It’s volatile and anything can happen,” the governor added.

Moreover, Marañon admitted that many Negrenses are also supporting the bid of Marcos.

Marcos said that his wife traces her roots to Bago City.

“Everyone here is Ilonggo by birth. I’m Ilonggo by choice because I married an Ilongga from Bago. I have a particularly close feeling for Bacolod and Negros,” he added.

Marcos said that he is lucky that the local candidates in Negros Occidental are his friends, although he recognized that they are members of a party and that they have to work within the confines of the party line.

“They know my capabilities and my plans. That’s how we are approaching the different areas and Negros is one of them. We feel we have the support of all quarters,” he added.

Marcos also met with the group of sugar planters at the Sugarland Hotel.

He said they talked about the problems of the sugar industry and how to address these.

“We exchanged ideas on agriculture and climate change,” he said.

‘Remember us’

Puentevella, who also welcomed the Marcos family at the City Mayor’s Office, said he is optimistic that Marcos will not forget Bacolod should he be elected vice president.

Like Marañon, Puentevella had also declared his support for Roxas and his running mate, Camarines Sur Representative Maria Leonor Robredo.

“I guess if he wins, he will remember us if he is in paradise. If he will be given a blessing from above, I’m sure he will help us,” the mayor said.

“If he wins, I will ask if he can help us (facilitate) for a 500-meter runway extension in our airport. Iloilo was able to add another 500 meters to their runaway because they have a Senate President,” Puentevella said.

In response, Marcos said he had always been supportive of the development efforts of the people in Negros since his wife is also from here.

Rally

About 50 members of militant groups Karapatan and Bayan in Negros Occidental picketed at the Central Market, where Marcos was slated to meet with the vendors in the morning, and at Casa Orola on Rizal Street, where the senator swore in members of BBM Volunteers in the afternoon.

Clarizza Dagatan, secretary-general of Karapatan-Negros, said they are calling on the people not to give Marcos a chance to return to power.

“He has no remorse over the human rights abuses committed by his family during the Martial Law,” she said.

‘Miriam not yet out of the race’

Meanwhile, Marcos said that his standard bearer, Senator Miriam Santiago, is not yet out of the presidential race even if the latter is lagging behind in surveys.

“Senator Miriam is not out of the race. She remains to be my presidential candidate. I will continue to campaign for her,” Marcos said.

He added that he has no second choice for president. “My only choice is Senator Miriam for president.”

Marcos said he believes that he and Santiago would surprise many people when the results of the May 9 elections will come in.

“I’m sure many people will be surprised. She is down in the surveys and it looks like there’s no support for her but if you go to specific areas, there’s a lot of people who are supporting her,” he noted.

Marcos said that he would join Santiago in Iloilo City on Wednesday, April 13.

Moreover, Marcos, who took the lead with 28 percent in the latest Pulse Asia vice presidential survey released Tuesday, said he “really attributes the survey results to the message we bring, which is unity and cooperation.”

The senator said he considers all the other vice presidential aspirants as his toughest opponent.

“I take all of my oppositions seriously,” he added.

He said that “the judicious way to handle it (the campaign) is to consider everybody serious contenders. And that’s what I’m doing.”

#NoToMarcos

Bong Bong Marcos BUGBOG SARADO sa Vice Presidential Debate

SHARE SHARE SHARE – VP candidate Alan Peter Cayetano naguna sa pagatake sa anak ng diktador. Napikon si BBM sa isyu ng graft and corruption, martial law, hidden wealth, PLUNDER, Napoles pork barrel fund scam at FAKE DIPLOMA. Hecklers inasar pa si Marcos Jr. at si BBM naman ay NATULALA at hindi makasagot. LIKE LIKE LIKE —–>>>>>Traydor Sa BAYAN Nakauna na ang mga kalaban ni Marcos Jr. sa GenSan sortie ng kandidato sa pagka pangalawang pangulo. Dahil sa kaunting tulakan sa pagdating ni Bong Bong, hindi nalang sha nagpatuloy sa kanyang speaking engagement. Iilan lang ang kalaban nyang nagpakita sa GenSan, sabi kasi nila na biglaan lang daw ang pagkaalam nila na papunta doon si BBM. Ngunit sa University of Santo Tomas, matagal nang nakaanunsho ang debateng iyon kaya napaghandaan si Bong Bong ng mga Vice Presidential candidates (si Alan ang pinakamatalas ang sibat, si Leni Robredo naman ay pumitik din). Sa banda ng mga demostrador, may nakapasok sa gymnasium at marami pa ang naiwan sa labas para maglunsad ng protest rally. Sa unang pananalita palang ni Bong Bong ay pinagsisigawan na siya ng mga nasa loob. May mga streamer pa. Halatanghalata na hindi preparado si BBM sa ganoong klaseng atake sa kanya kaya para shang HILONGTALILONG na puro DEADMA, PINABULAANAN ang mga paratang o HAYAGANG NAGSINUNGALING sa pagsagot nya.  Bago ang vice presidential debate, marami nust bbm 5a ang nagsasabing sigurado na raw ang pagkapanalo ni Bong Bong at babalik na sa Malacanang ang mga Marcos. Pagkatapos nang debate, nabuhayan ang mga katunggali ni Bong Bong (lalo pa si Senador Alan). Ang mga biktima ng Marcos Martial Law ay umaasa pa rin na MAPIPIGILAN ang tagumpay ng TAGAPAGMANA ng BILYONG DOLYAR na nakaw na yaman na nakamal sa DIKTADURYANG MARCOS.

https://www.facebook.com/428550027331399/photos/a.428553420664393.1073741827.428550027331399/489204624599272/?type=3&theater SHARE SHARE SHARE https://www.facebook.com/MakabayanQuezonCityNCR/photos/a.1501364790144575.1073741828.1501350383479349/1710533299227722/?type=3&theater  LIKE LIKE LIKE —–>>>>> @Traydor Sa BAYAN

 

RELATED ARTICLE:

Philippine Daily Inquirer    ,    April 11t 2016

Bongbong Marcos bashed at VP debate

RIVALS ganged up on Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during the first and only vice presidential debate Sunday over his father’s record on corruption and human rights.

Most of the people in the audience joined in the bashing of the son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos who shared with Sen. Francis Escudero the top two slots in recent voter popularity surveys on the vice presidential race barely a month before the May 9 elections.

But the way he was hammered by the other presidential aspirants, the young Marcos appeared to be the man to beat in the balloting.

Marcos had barely begun his opening remarks during the debate sponsored by the Commission on Elections and CNN Philippines when hecklers at the gallery unfurled posters against the senator, chanting “Never again to martial law.” Security whisked them away.

At one point, he mistakenly raised the “yes” (green) side of his signboard, albeit briefly, on the first yes-or-no question during the debate: Have you ever been involved in corruption?

It did not help that Marcos remarked, “In my 27 years in public service, I have not been tainted by corruption.” Boos from the audience followed, drowning out the loud cheers of his red-clad supporters.

Marcos’ statement got the ire of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano who, drawing a contrast between him and his Senate colleague, pointed out that the dictator’s son never attended a single Senate hearing on any corruption scandal.

“I was in Edsa 1 (People Power Revolution), Edsa 2, protested against (Vice President Jejomar) Binay and (former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo). Others would just disappear when there’s a hearing on a corruption issue,” said Cayetano, the independent running mate of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

This began tense exchanges that would dominate the first hour of the CNN-led debate at the half-filled University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion.

“Senator Bongbong said he is not tainted by corruption. But his family stole $10 billion. He diverted P205 million of his PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) to Napoles NGOs (nongovernment organizations). I don’t know if that’s what you mean by being untainted,” Cayetano said.

He referred to jailed businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, mastermind of the PDAF diversion fund scam where several lawmakers have been implicated.

“Just wait if you make him Vice President, the stolen money might reach $100 billion,” Cayetano said.

Looking incredulous, Marcos said his opponent seemed to have pulled his numbers out of thin air, and questioned why his fellow senator was raising the matter only now.

Unfazed, Cayetano proceeded: “Your SALN (Statement of Assets and Liabilities) says P200 million to P500 million (in assets), but you never worked [outside government]. Where would you get that amount of money?”

Marcos said his family had faced all litigation related to martial law: “All orders from the court, we follow them.”

He also defended his absence from Senate hearings on corruption cases. “It was very clear to me that what they were doing was not anticorrruption but politicking,” he said.

He also denied ties with Napoles, saying he had been wrongfully accused of involvement in diverting his PDAF to bogus NGOs.

“If you read her affidavit, Napoles herself cleared my name. We were never photographed together. It’s clear that I had nothing to do with the PDAF scam and I am surprised that this is coming out just now because of politicking,” Marcos said.

Rep. Leni Robredo, the Liberal Party (LP) vice presidential candidate, insisted that the Marcoses should return stolen wealth.

Marcos replied: “I cannot give what I do not have, I have no knowledge of.”

Asked on his stand on human rights violations, Marcos said he acknowledged every human right violation in every administration. “It is necessary to do so otherwise we will repeat the mistakes of the past.”

He maintained that he had never fallen under suspicion of violating human rights in his 27 years of service in government and said that he had obeyed court decisions on the Marcoses’ ill-gotten wealth, but Robredo argued that the family had not abided by the directives of the courts in the United States and Singapore.

“It is so clear that we are in the middle of the campaign period,” Marcos said exasperatedly and claimed that the government itself, “headed by the LP,” was blocking the means by which human rights claimants can be recompensed.

“The government must withdraw its claim so the human rights victims will be compensated,” the senator said.

Cayetano cut in, “20 years (of the Marcoses in power) was not about peace and order. It was about keeping one family in power.”

He claimed that Senator Marcos allied himself with Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Joseph Estrada to avoid returning $1 billion that his family still possessed, causing Marcos to tell him in irritation, “I do not know where that is coming from. He (Cayetano) has been inventing so many things.”

Escudero, the vice presidential candidate of presidential aspirant Grace Poe, said an apology for past mistakes would be moot and academic at this point.

It was better to come up with measures such as a human rights compensation bill and an anti-enforced disappearance act to prevent abuses from recurring, said Escudero, whose father was a Marcos agriculture minister.

For his part, Sen. Gregorio Honasan, the vice presidential candidate of Vice President Jejomar Binay, said: “Human rights is universal. It does not recognize family names. We have to strengthen our institutions.”

Momentarily panning the focus away from Marcos, Robredo asked Escudero if he did anything about discretionary funds such as PDAF during his nine years in the House of Representatives.

The question came after Escudero’s response on the corruption question, where he said he and his presidential candidate Poe would clamp down on corruption by identifying all forms of discretionary funds in the government budget.

Escudero had said: “Minimizing discretion will minimize corruption. Eliminating discretion will eliminate corruption.”

Robredo asked if the long-time lawmaker had taken steps to get rid of the PDAF before the controversy broke out.

Escudero, who was Sorsogon representative from 1998 to 2007, said he as senator implemented the Supreme Court order abolishing the PDAF and wrote it into the General Appropriations Act.

Robredo, Camarines Sur representative, replied: “Even us in Congress we implemented that. But that’s not my question. You were in Congress for a long time. What did you do to remove the PDAF?”

Escudero evaded the question, replying instead: “For nine years, I did not have the PDAF under the Arroyo administration because I fought for the truth.” The senator led impeachment efforts against Arroyo in the House in 2005.

But the two candidates seemed to have agreed on one thing when, earlier in the debate, they both aired the need for Congress to finally pass a freedom of information (FOI) law.

Escudero, coauthor of the proposed FOI bill in the Senate, said such a law was critical in the fight against corruption.

“It will serve as a spotlight and camera on government transactions. It will be easier to spot and catch corruption. Whoever is liable will be held accountable and jailed,” he said.

Robredo, coauthor of the FOI bill in the House of Representatives, meanwhile, said her version of the measure was “different from the Senate version,” in that it requires government to release public documents even without the demand.