LIVE UPDATES: The CNN Philippines Presidential Debate 2022

Abella: Ang plataporma natin ay nakatayo sa tatlong haligi. Patas na bayan, gobyernong nararamdaman, at matatag na lipunan. Ang gusto natin mangyari ay balance of power kasi usually it's legistlation and big business. Gusto natin na balanse yan with participation ng civil society. Within the first 100 days, we’re making sure na merong participation ng civil society para mabalanse. May puwang po sa local government code na 25% ng sumasali sa pamamahala ay galing sa civil society. Gusto natin hikayatin sila to look after law enforcement, trades, bids and awards, and law informants. Within three to six months, meron pong epekto because we will invite them to truly participate in local government.

Lacson: Una, di ako naniniwala sa deadlines. But on my first day of office, I will sign a waiver on the bank secrecy act that will set the tone of my presidency. On my first 100 days, I will do a cleansing of inept, corrupt, and undisciplined gov’t officials and employees. Maraming programa na pang-anti-corruption. Kung ang isang leader ay walang moral ascendancy and he cannot practice what he preaches, then it’s useless. Napaka importante ng leadership by example. Napakaimportante na ang presidente ang magset ng tone para maging matiwasay at mahusay ang ating bayan,

Magondato: Gagawin ko po na ilalagay ang gobyerno sa auto pilot. Ang hahawak ng ating gobyerno ay yung propesyonal na may civil service, sila ang mga undersecretaries na may experiensiya na nanungkulan at marami nang naimprovise na idea na pwede nilang ilatag sa ating mga problema. Ako ay magiging isang pangulo na gagampanan ko ang aking tungkulin sa pamamaraan na mawala ang korapsyon at kahirapan sa ating bansa sa pagtawid natin sa federalismo.

Montemayor: Let us be realistic, wag tayo managinip. Unang-una, para maramdaman, COVID relief: six months, ako po ay isang doctor. Ang ekonomiya natin, ang impact ng leadership will be felt in 1 year. Ang unemployment, we plan to reduce that from 9 million to 3.4 million, ang job creation, we will be dynamic with that. That will be felt with 1 year.

Pacquiao: Unang tatlong buwan, pineprepare ko na yung plano ng mega prison dahil gusto ko makita sa kulungan yung mga kawatan diyan sa gobyerno. Gusto kong baliktarin bawat ahensya sa gobyerno, ipa-audit ko lahat from national to local government because that’s the only way na magkakaroon tayo ng tunay na pagbabago, kasaganahan sa bansa. Magbibigay din tayo ng livelihood at kapital para makapagstart mga MSMEs ng businessses. Ang pinakapangarap ni Manny Pacquiao ay makita ko ang mga materialistic, mga mukhang pera diyan sa gobyerno na makita ko sila sa kulungan. Di makakalabas, lalo na pag plunder. Magpapasa tayo ng batas na walang plunder para habang buhay siyang bilanggo.

Robredo: Ang ating laging sinsigaw, gobyernong tapat, angat buhay lahat. Unang-una, marangal at maayos na trabaho para sa lahat. Di magiging hadlang ang kahirapan para makakuha ng dekalidad na edukasyon. Sa unang araw po ng aking panunungkulan bilang pangulo, ang aking executive order na ipapasa ay full disclosure. Irerequire natin lahat ng gov’t offices and instrumentalities to make public lahat ng public transactions. Di po to enough pero important first step ito para iparamdam natin sa kababayan na lilinisin natin ang pamamahala. Pangalawa, ang ating mga iaappoint na public servants ay matitino at mahuhusay.

Gonzales: Katulad po ni Sen. Lacson, di po ako naniniwala sa deadline. Sa 100 days, baka wala pa masyadong maramdaman ang ating mga kababayan. Kasi ang iniisip ko po, dapat simulan na natin ang pagtanaw sa pinaplanong bukas— First World. Yan po ay may mga paghahanda at pagbabago na dapat gawin. Pwede kong ipangako, pag-uusapan ang pagbabago sa ating constitution, titingnan natin kung kailangan tayo maging parliamentary. Yung inaadvocate po ng iba na federal, di po ako pabor diyan pero pwede nating pag-usapan. Perhaps, we can convert our regions into autonomous ones.

De Guzman: Di rin ako sang-ayon sa time frame. Pero ang una kong gagawin ang pagtutupad ng labor first policy. Pasensiya na po sa malalaking korporasyon, di po ito para sa inyo. Una, ititigil ko yung contractualization, ipapasara ko yung mga manpower agency. Pangalawa, itataas ko yung sahod ng mga manggagagawa na nasa probinsya tulad ng nasa metro manila. Sa kanayunan, papaunlarin natin ang ani ng magsasaka. Popondohan natin, titriplehin natin para ma-enganyo ang mga magsasaka na magproduce ng maraming pagkain. Yung ating services, kuryente, tubig, hospital, eskwelahan, aakuhin ng gobyerno ang pagpapatakbo niyan at gagawing serbisyo hindi negosyo ng malalaking negosyante. Yung mga batas na nagproprotekta ng mga kapitalistang malalaki, didistrongkahin natin dahil yan naglelegalize ng pagyaman ng pagyaman. Yung climate, in two years, ipapasara natin yung coal plant dahil yan ang pinakamaruming enerhiya sa ating mundo na nagpapahirap satin. Ipapanawagan natin na dapat sa panahong ito, manggagawa naman, di kapitalista.

Moreno: Well, I get things done. I don’t have to give a time frame since time immemorial kapag ako ay pumapasok sa gobyerno, I try to excell in my field of undertaking. Basta ito mga kababayan, basta kami ni Doc Willie ang bigyan niyo ng pagkakataon, tao muna. Life and livelihood in the first two years. Itatawid namin kayo. Tataas ang gasolina, ang bilihin—yun bang mararamdaman ninyo na may gobyerno kayong maasahan, masasandalan. Yun ang pangako ko sa inyo, na makakaraos tayo sa pandemya. Then there will be certainty and predictability in our policy sa pamamahala. Tao muna. Kayo muna.

LENI ROBREDO: Napakarami. Noong andito ako in 2016, talagang wala akong balak tumakbo. In fact, promise ko ito sa mga anak ko na iyon na ang huling election para sa pamilya namin.
 
Pero iyong from 2016 to 2021, nakita natin kung papaano niyurakan ng fake news, ng disinformation, ng propaganda, ang paniniwala at mindsets ng napakaraming Pilipino.
 
At dahil disinformation at propaganda ang namayani, talagang iyong threat ng pagbabalik ng klase ng politika na puno ng korapsyon, iyong klase ng politika na nagdala sa atin ng plunder in the past, iyong klase ng politika na talagang madumi, iyong klase ng politika na nagdala ng napakaraming paghihirap para sa ating lahat. Iyon iyong nagpalit.
 
PING LACSON: Nothing has changed because at that time, there were emerging leaders… Mayor Isko Moreno, Mayor Sara Duterte and many others. Kasi tinitingnan ko noon iyong mga young leaders na nag-e-emerge...Walang nagpapalit doon. Kaya tumatakbo din sila. Ako rin naniniwala na may kakayanan sila na tumakbo.
 
LEODY DE GUZMAN: Kasi iyong mga tumatakbo ngayon, mahuhusay naman, lahat magagaling, matatalino tulad ng mga nagdaang pangulo ng nakaraan. Pero ang problem, iyong framework ng pagtakbo. Framework din ng mga dating tumakbo, na buhayin iyong mga negosyanteng malalaki. Buhayin at ipasakamay nila iyong pag-asa ng ating bansa, iyong kabuhayan ng ating mamamayan, iyong kabutihan ng ating mga kababayan.
 
Puro todong pabor ang ibinibigay sa malalaking kapitalista sa nakaraan. Hindi naman lumalabas sa bulsa ng mga kapitalista iyong yamang nakukuha nila.  Hindi totoo iyong trickle down theory. Kaya kung iyon pa rin ang magiging framework ng pag-gogobyerno natin, mauulit at mauulit ang nangyari sa panahon ni Marcos, ni Cory, ni Duterte, mangyayari uli iyon. Mababaon tayo sa utang. Hindi tayo uunlad.
 
ERNESTO ABELLA: Nakita ko kasi sa experience ko working with people. Nag-ministeryo ako for 20 years, educator for 20 years, credit cooperative for 20 years.
 
Ang nakita ko, ang problema talaga ng power institutions ay tao. Kung tao ang problema, tao rin ang solusyon. Nakita ko na pwedeng hikayatin ang tao na pwedeng mabago at kung mababago ang Pilipino, mababago ang Pilipinas.
 
JOSE MONTEMAYOR JR: Mali ang kanilang mga premise, puro pansarili. Ako isang doktor, kaya tumatakbo, ano ba ngayon? PAN-DE-MIC. At saka ang impact ng pandemic, sa lahat ng sector. Economy, jobs, unemployment... ang sa kanila, very simplistic. Kumukuha lang sila ng boto, isinasakripisyo ang future ng mamamayan. Puro sila manggagawa.
 
Oo, ako manggagawa rin naman ako. Sa ospital. Pero tandaan natin, we are still in the COVID-19 time. Pandemic pa rin. Kung puro na lang tayo isang sector na lang, hindi tayo uunlad. Tandaan natin, ang impact ng COVID-19, sa ekonomiya. At tandaan natin, ang COVID-19, hindi puro vaccine.
 
ISKO MORENO DOMAGOSO: Alam mo itong pandemic, it teaches us a lot of lessons in life, even priorities. Sa akin, ang importante, kayong mga kababayan. Paano kayo makakatawid sa pandemyang ito, paano tayo makakapagbigay ng trabaho doon sa apat na milyong trabahanteng mga nawalan ng trabaho? Iyong mga nagsara, paano makaka-recover? Iyong huwag na sana magsara?
 
We have to do and show proof of our concept or ideas and policy. What we have done in Manila, naitawid namin ang 700,000 families...We economically grew despite these challenges. These are the things that are duplicable, scaleable.
 
MANNY PACQUIAO: Iyong mga programa, plataporma, ang tagal na nating naririnig iyan. Ilang dekada na ang lumipas. Ilang election na ang lumipas sa bansa natin. Ibig sabihin ba, hindi magagaling iyong mga namumuno noong araw? Magagaling iyon.
 
Ang importante sa bansa natin, magkaroon tayo ng isang leader na may totoong pagmamahal at pagmamalasakit sa bayan, lalong-lalo na sa ating kababayan na naghihirap.
 
Iyong nakadama sa nararamdaman ng mga nagugutom na pamilya, iyong nakadama sa mga nararamdaman ng nawalan ng tahanan at trabaho. Iyon po ang kailangan nating leader. Kung di man si Manny Pacquiao, I'm hoping na ang Panginoon ay maglagay ng godly person na tunay na magmamahal sa ating bansa. Hindi magnanakaw, hindi materialistic.

CNN Philippines has reported that its website is now down after it was subjected to a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack.

The incident happened while the network was in the middle of hosting the CNN Presidential Debate.

“We would like to assure everyone that we are working to get the site up and running as soon as possible,” the network said in a statement. 

A DDoS attack is a malicious attempt to take down a network by suddenly overwhelming its traffic.

The presidential candidates were asked their stance on the Russia-Ukraine crisis and whether the Philippines should stay neutral as what was stated by Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana. Three candidates—Abella, Moreno, and Mangondato—said yes.
 
Moreno maintained that the next president should put the Filipino first. “Sa ngayon, yes. Neutral tayo. Filipino first, dahil yun ang pangunahing trabaho ng presidente.”
 
Lacson, on the other hand, noted the Philippines is a signatory of the United Nations charter and should join other countries in condemning Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine. “Di naman masama kung makisama tayo sa peace-loving nations para mabahagi yung boses natin sa pagkondena kasi aggression talaga eh—invasion.”
 
On the topic of the West Philippine sea disputes with China, Gonzales presented his strategy of national mobilization, citing the tenacity of the people in Ukraine as inspiration.
 
“Magandang example yung nangyayari sa Ukraine because of their tenacity to stand up and fight. Yan ang dapat nating inuuna bago tayo humanap ng tulong sa kapitbahay. I was advocating national mobilization. Mahirap na di handa ang ating kabataan kung sakaling magkaroon ng kaguluhan. Di tayo maghahamon ng gera pero ipapakita natin na handa tayong tumindig sa ating pinaglalaban,” he said.
 
On the country’s P11.7 trillion debt, Robredo, Lacson, and Abella said that it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing as long as it’s spent on Filipinos’ needs. Montemayor, for his part, negated their opinions.
 
“Masama yan. We are mortgaging the future generation,” he said, raising how most of the borrowed money is spent on infrastructure like roads.
 
Pacquiao chimed in saying borrowed money should be budgeted for projects promising income returns.
 
All candidates were also asked if they would make their Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth public, which all said yes to.

Here are the answers of the presidential candidates to the question, "What's the future of LGBTQ+ civil union under your administration?" 

MANNY PACQUIAO: Hindi natin sila ina-underestimate o mataas ang respeto natin sa kanila, pero iyong sinasabi nating magsasama sila, tutol po ako diyan.
 
Kailangan maging pantay tayo, pare-pareho tayo sa bansa natin na walang pinapaburan, anumang klaseng tao. Pero iyong sinasabi natin na pagdating sa same sex marriage, against ako diyan. Hindi ako pabor diyan, inuulit ko lang ngayon.
 
Iyong LGBT+, saludo ako diyan, masisipag silang magtrabaho...Pagdating po sa kanilang personal na buhay, personal na pagdedesisyon, hindi po natin sila mapipigil, hindi po natin sila mapipilit. Ang atin lamang po ay paalala. Mahirap naman iyong pipilitin mo ang sarili para sa sang-ayunan mo sila na magkakasala naman sa Panginoon. Kung walang Panginoon, wala tayong magagawa.
 
LENI ROBREDO: Naniniwala po ako na lahat dapat binibigyan ng pagkakataon na ma-enjoy iyong mga karapatan na nae-enjoy ng iba.
 
I'm all for civil unions, pareho po ako ng paniniwala ni Pope Francis na may karapatang lumigaya kahit sino. Hindi dapat sila pinaparusahan because of the choices they make.
 
Para po sa akin, obligasyon ng pamahalaan na sisiguruhin na hindi sila nadi-discriminate upon. Lahat ng opportunities na available sa iba, available din para sa kanila.
 
PING LACSON: Same sex marriage, no. Civil union, yes.
 
Tama ang sinabi ni Vice President Robredo, dapat walang discrimination kasi may karapatan din sila na maging parang ordinaryo na katulad nating, ayaw ko sabihing straight, pero, heterosexual.
 
Kung ano iyong enjoyment natin at pribilehiyo sa ating buhay, bigyan din natin sila ng equal na oportunidad. Malinaw sa akin iyon.

De Guzman, Lacson, and Mangondato raised their hands to state they are in favor of instituting divorce.

All the presidential candidates present at the CNN Presidential Debate agreed through a show of hands that public servants should publicize their Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth.

All presidential candidates except Isko Moreno said they would return unused campaign funds to donors. The Manila mayor justified his answer, saying he has no “moral ascendancy” to answer in favor.
 
“I have to be fair with the Filipino people. Di ako nagsoli ng binigay na tulong sa kampanya na sobra ngunit tinupad ko bilang tungkulin bilang mamamayan na magbayad ng buwis. That’s why wala akong moral ascendancy to answer the question in favor,” he said.
 
Moreno had previously admitted to keeping some of the excess campaign funds from his failed Senate run in 2016. 
 
“I have to remain with what I have done in the past and I don’t know what i’m going to do in the future. I hope that someday, the new sets of Congress and Senate should pass a law that [on returning excess campaign funds]. What matters more is you pay your taxes,” the mayor added.
 
Montemayor raised a question to Moreno, asking about what happened with the”$50 million” donated by “Bill Gates” in 2016.
 
Moreno and the hosts corrected the lawyer-doctor, saying the donation was probably in pesos, not dollars. He also presented receipts with the BIR, asserting that he paid taxes for the donated campaign funds.
 
During the 2016 elections, the Manila mayor received a total of P171 million donations with P50 million left over by the end of his campaign, according to his Statement of Contribution and Expenditures. A report from the Philippine Center of Investigative Journalism said he paid P9.7 million in taxes for the P50 million income.

Presidential bets were asked about the importance of attending debates.
 
De Guzman said attendance is a must, as it allows candidates to present their platforms to viewers.
 
"Napakaimportante nito. Dapat andito iyong isang kasama namin, bakit hindi pumunta dito?" he said, alluding to Marcos Jr. who skipped the event.
 
Domagoso said debates are necessary, as the lives of Filipino people will be at stake for the next six years.
 
He also likened viewers to human resource officers, who would scrutinize them candidates as job applicants.
 
"Gusto mo naman bang mag-hire ng empleyado na hindi mo nakausap?" he said. "Hindi mo nakita, hindi mo nalaman kung ano ang karanasan, ano ang magagawa para sa iyong kumpanya, metaphorically speaking?"
 
Gonzales, meanwhile, thanked the existence of debates as they're a means to explain what their ideas are in serving Filipinos.
 
"Natutuwa tayo na kahit papaano, may mga okasyong ganito na pinag-uusapan ang dapat seryosong bagay na nakakaapekto sa atin at sa ating kinabukasan," he said.
 
Mangondato said debates help the electorate make an informed decision on who they'll vote for in May.
 
"Pag nagkamali tayo ng pagsulat, anim na taon nating dadalhin sa ating buhay," he said.
 
For Lacson, debates are a level playing field as attendees won't have tutors, scripts, or cellphones.
 
"Maaarok ang wisdom ng bawat isa sa amin, pati ang grasp sa issues," he said, adding in jest that the hosts should give them more time to answer.
 
Montemayor, meanwhile, dismissed the importance of debates, saying the CNN Philippines' event "is not the classic debate, walang contrarian approach." Agreeing with Lacson, he lamented the time constraints in answering questions and rebutting rivals.
 
"Iyong brain mo, nagfa-fire pa lang, titigil na kagad. Kung may brain ka," he said. "It may be, well, a forum, but it isn't the debate that we expect."
 
Pacquiao said presence in debates determine the candidate's sincerity in running for office and purity of heart.
 
"Kailangan sumipot tayo sa mga ganitong imbitasyon para maipahayag ang tunay nating hangarin," he said.
 
For Robredo, debates are opportunities to not only present platforms but show the public their demeanor and character as would-be leaders.
 
"Iyong number one ingredient din ay you show up in the most difficult times. Kapag hindi ka mag-show up in the most difficult times, hindi ka leader," she said.
 
For Abella, "Hindi naman po ito power play. It's a question of respecting one another, the electorate, and our points of view."

The presidential candidates were asked to raise their hands if they agree with Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana’s "neutral" stance on Russia’s Ukraine invasion.

Only Abella, Isko Moreno, and Mangondato raised their hands, signifying their agreement with Lorenzana.

Pacquiao, Robredo, and Lacson were specifically asked about their infrastructure development plans, with the hosts asking how the candidates would justify the potentially disrupting roadwork to Filipinos who are tired of traffic congestion.

Pacquiao’s plans include building more skyways in Metro Manila, which he says is “important,” saying this will bring development.

Meanwhile, Robredo wants to make more roads for people and not cars, giving the pandemic as an example as more turned to alternative modes of mobility during the strict lockdowns. 

“Base sa datos, kakaunting percentage ng tao ay konti lang may sasakyan. Marami na ang gusto magdala ng biskleta, motorsiklo, maglakad pero di handa yung mga kalye natin. Kaya dapat talaga eto ang binubuhusan ng pera.

The VP added that the country should also invest in other cities outside the metro to decongest it.

Meanwhile, Lacson who plans to fully implement the national broadband program said it’s time to shift to the public-private partnership from the current Build Build Build because the Philippines is saddled with debt.

On the topic the price of commodities for Filipinos, three candidates were asked about how they would balance the interest of consumers and manufacturers.

For De Guzman, he believes the Philippines needs to stop being import- and export-dependent to help out local farmers. “Balik tayo dapat sa dating panahon tulad ng 1960 na pinauunlad ang ating industriya. Di tayo dapat umasa ng umasa sa dayuhang produkto.”

Gonzales proposed a classification of agriculture crops to deal with food insecurity in the country. He said the government could provide subsidy to farmers who grow “strategic” crops like rice so they could earn more.

In their platforms, labor leader De Guzman and Sen. Pacquiao are proposing standardized salary for workers. The two were asked how much their proposed minimum wage is. Pacquiao said it should be P700 to P800 per day or P20,000 to P30,000 a month, while De Guzman gave P750 as his proposed wage.

“Yung ating kasalukuyang sahod ay P537 sa manila, sa probinsya, mas mababa. Ang sabi ng NEDA dapat sahurin ng manggagawa ay nasa P16,08 a day sa presyo ng bilihin at serbisyo dito sa bansa. Pero sa tingin ko kahit kalahati lang niyan ay malaking alwa na. Wag matakot ang mga negosyante na malulugi kami. Marami nang pag-aaral ang nagagawa na pag ang manggagawa ay may dagdag sahod, benepisyo, lumalakas ang takbo ng ekonomiya dahil di naman nila ito binabaon sa lupa,” he said.

Montemayor chimed in, asking De Guzman about employers who he says will have their rights “impinged” with the raising of minimum wages.

“Nasa isip natin yan, lalo na MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises). Ang gusto ba natin sabihin ba patuloy pahirapan ang manggagagaw, na pasahurin ng slavery wage? Bakit di natin bigay sa manggagawa ang tamang pasahod na dapat nilang tanggapin? Wag nating yung ating manggagawang magiging g miserable ang mga buhay. Wag natin purihin lang ang mga manggagawa, na sila’y gawing bayani lang bilang Mayo uno,” the labor leader answered.

The presidential bets were asked, "Where were you in the days, weeks, months after the March 16, 2020 lockdown?"

Abella said that when he was still with the Department of Foreign Affairs as undersecretary for strategic communications and research, they worked on the repatriation of Filipinos in Middle East and Europe.

De Guzman, meanwhile, was at home with his family watching news about government policies. He said he's "saddened" because the Duterte administration seem to have treated COVID-19 as a trivial matter.

He also lamented that instead of turning to doctors and medical experts, the government hired the police and the military to deal with the situation instead.

Domagoso recalled his London trip in February that year, when he talked with officials about their game plan to address the novel coronavirus from Wuhan at the time.

When he got back in Manila, he said he immediately met with local health officials to determine what's the next step based on what he learned from London.

Gonzales said that during those days, he's enjoying the mountain view in Orani in Bataan. He asked local officials to build a shrine where the community will still have livelihood amid the lockdown.

Lacson said he was in the Senate, discussing with fellow lawmakers how to give out ayudas to Filipinos.

Pacquiao said he distributed face masks, face shields, and PPE sets, noting that he didn't go into "hiding" and that the cost came from his own pocket.

Robredo said they've been inviting medical experts to her radio program for dissemination of information about the virus.

She said they've also procured PPE sets for healthcare workers and when supplies were already running low, they tapped local tailors to create more.

Montemayor Jr., meanwhile, praised Robredo, Pacquiao, and Lacson for what they said.

But he lamented that five of his classmates who died of COVID-19, even disclosing that he also got infected while on duty. On behalf of medical frontliners, he said they've been too selfless just to ensure Filipinos' safety.

Mangondato said his family has been locked up at home and has been informing relatives to follow government health protocols.

He, then, went on to claim that "calamities" come from the "Tagalikha," and a means of supposed "punishment" for our "sins."

The presidential bets were first asked if an instance of corruption has happened under their watch as a public servant or a civic leader and how they dealt with it.

For his part, Abella said that he was approached by a businessman-type in his first few weeks as President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman, but he claimed to have rejected the person’s offer.

Labor leader De Guzman shared that he has never been in such situation but that if it were to happen, he would reject it. “Makukulong yung mag-ooffer sa’kin kaya ‘wag niyong gagawin.”

As Manila mayor, Moreno brought up how he adapted technology in the capital city’s government interactions. “The only way to solve corruption is to limit human discretion in government interaction. That can be done in the entire country.”

Gonzales, on the other hand, claimed to not have experienced corruption firsthand. He added that he would look at the country’s systems to deal with the issue if elected.

Despite Laguna was plagued with jueteng and the Senate with the pork barrel issue, Lacson said that his hands remain clean. He once told his provincial headquarters: “Kung ako mabalitaan niyo na tumanggap ng suhol sa jueteng, andiyan yung flag pole, itali niyo ako.”

Mangondato talked about how corruption is systemic, while Montemayor noted how aside from being a cardiologist, he is a criminal lawyer who worked with the office of the Ombudsman to face corruption in the health care department.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao shared how he was approached by convicted pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles while he was training in Los Angeles, which he refused.

Lastly, Robredo shared how she is clean, with the Office of the Vice President gaining the highest Commision on Audit rating in the past three tears.

All nine candidates, except for Pacquiao said that they would first investigate the Bureau of Customs for allegations of corruption. The senator/boxer said he would first eye the Department of Heatlh.

All the presidential candidates have already arrived at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila for the CNN Philippines Presidential Debate 2022.

Jose Montemayor Jr. of the Democratic Party of the Philippines arrived at 2:20 PM as reported by The Varsitarian, the official student publication of UST.

Faisal Mangondato, who reportedly aims to push for federalism if elected, has also arrived.

Presidential candidate Leody de Guzman arrived at around 2:50 PM.

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson of Partido Reporma, independent candidate Ernesto Abella, Vice President Leni Robredo, former defense secretary Norberto Gonzales, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, and Sen. Manny Pacquiao have all also arrived at UST.