by Ana Rufa Padua and Raphaella Sarangaya

Four presidential aspirants— VP Leni Robredo, Mayor Isko Moreno, Senator Panfilo Lacson, and Senator Manny Pacquiao answer questions on their plans and purpose for running as well as their stand on certain issues during The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews held evening of January 22, 2022. (Read the highlights of the interview here.) 

During the said interview, a segment was allotted for each aspirant to talk about and explain controversies and opinions related to them.

Robredo was the first to undergo the said portion, where she was asked questions such as her decision to run independent, her attempt in the unification of the candidates, her primary motivation for running, and her stance in vote-buying.

Notably, Soho also questioned Robredo’s readiness in taking the highest position in the country— claiming that although she is the one with the highest position among all the candidates, she is also the one with the least experience in the said field. 

“Maiksi ‘yung aking panunungkulan sa pulitika, pero long before I became a politician, I was already a public servant…talagang ‘yung aking pagsisilbi ay nasa pinakalaylayan ng lipunan,” Robredo answered.

Additionally, Robredo gave her thoughts on the opinions of people that the country needs a president with an iron fist. Robredo answered that courage knows no gender, it’s seen on how one makes a decision in life. 

Pacquiao went next and was immediately hit with a question about his stance on same-sex marriage to which he answered, “Hindi po ako pabor diyan…Bilang paniniwala natin—sa faith natin sa Panginoon ay kailangan doon tayo sa gusto ng Panginoon.” 

Soho also mentioned Pacquiao’s big leap from boxing to politics, asking what his reactions are towards those who are saying that he might lack knowledge, experience, and capability to run for the highest position in the country.

Pacquiao responded, “Sa mahigit isang dekadang pagseserbisyo ko sa gobyerno, nakita ko ang problema. Kaya po talaga ako lumaban, dahil ang laban ko ay hindi laban ko lamang kundi laban ng bawat Pilipino…Panahon naman na ang mahihirap ang manalo sa laban na ito.”

After a short round of Isang Salita, where the aspirants described the picture shown on the screen with one word, it was Lacson’s turn to answer questions related to his controversies.

Soho asked Lacson whether or not he felt sorry for those who were killed under his watch as a law enforcer to which he answered, “Wala, kasi talagang ganyan ang buhay. Nasa law enforcement ako, trabaho ko ‘yun para iligtas ‘yung aking mga kasama o iligtas ang aking sarili.”

Lacson’s resignation in 2015, two years after being given the responsibility to aid the victims of Supertyphoon Yolanda in 2013, was also brought up in the said interviews— implying that his imprudent decision is to blame for the inability of Leyte to get back up after the calamity. 

He responded, “Mag-re-resign ako kasi wala naman akong gagawin na. Natupad ko na ‘yung mandate na binigay n’yo sa’kin…Kung saan man nag-fail yung implementation, labas po ako doon.”

Moreno went last and was interrogated on his lack of assertion regarding the violence that occurred during Martial Law and the cases of theft charged against the Marcos family due to his contradicting statements regarding such matters in the past. 

In response, the Manila City Mayor said, “Actually, it’s the other way around, may paninindigan ako. Kinokopya ko yung magaling…’Yung mali, hindi natin kinakalimutan so that we will not do the same mistake in the future.”

Soho also asked whether Moreno likes or dislikes President Duterte and his administration to which he answered, “Maraming bagay na ginawa si Pangulong Duterte na pwedeng kopyahin at ipagpatuloy. ‘Yung mga ginawa naman ng kabinete niya na hindi maganda, dapat lang punahin.”

The four aspirants were also asked about their plan of action for issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, war on drugs, corruption in the government, education sector, rights of OFWs, disaster management, international tribunal ruling, poverty gap, misinformation and disinformation, as well as their three main priorities for their administration.

Lastly, their stances on mandatory drug test for candidates, same-sex marriage, divorce, death penalty, the modification of the Philippine constitution, lowering of criminal age liability, visiting forces agreement between the Philippines and America, and other relevant and timely issues were also sought. 

However, only four out of five presidential candidates accepted the invitation to be interviewed by Jessica Soho. Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s camp refused to join the interviews with other presidential aspirants— claiming that Soho is “biased against the Marcoses.”

As the rounds of interviews came to a close, GMA Network also released a statement refuting these claims and clarifying that Ms. Soho asked every aspirant questions that needed to be asked, “..The questions are tough because the job of the presidency is tough.” 

The replay of the Presidential Interviews can be watched through this link while the transcripts can be viewed at Hi-Lites twitter page.