(File photo) MANILA - Did you know that of the six general elections held so far in the Philippines under the 1987 Constitution, there were two times when 10 candidates aspired for the top elective post? The first time was in the May 11, 1998 polls where the presidency was contested by then Vice President Joseph Estrada, reigning House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr. and eight others, namely: Senators Raul Roco, Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Juan Ponce Enrile; former Defense Secretary Renato De Villa, Cebu Gov. Lito Osmena, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairman Manuel Morato, and lawyer Santiago Dumlao. The second time was the recently concluded May 9 polls with outgoing Vice President Leny G. Robredo and former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as the leading contenders. The other eight candidates were Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, former Pre
Imelda Marcos lost to Fidel Ramos in the 1992 presidential race, and her only son Ferdinand “Bongbong” Jr. lost in his bids for the Senate in 1995 and for the vice presidency in 2016.
A MARCOS JR. administration would pave the way for the completion of the “unfinished business” of the Duterte administration, according to local economists. Economists such as Ateneo Center for Research and Development (ACERD) Associate Director Ser Percival K. Peña-Reyes said this means the passage of the remaining tax reform packages…
Senator Bong Go (standing) and Senate President Vicente Sotto III(File photo) MANILA - Senator Christopher "Bong" Go emphasized on Friday the importance of strengthening the quality of medical services, citing the pandemic as an eye-opener on the gaps in the country's health care system. The chair of the Committee on Health and Demography assured that he will push for all initiatives to boost the country's health care services. "Kailangan po talaga mag-invest tayo dahil bawat buhay ng Pilipino ay importante (We need to invest because every Filipino's life is important)," he said in a statement. Admitting that his veteran colleagues are better than him in debates, Go vowed to continue fighting for the poor, particularly those concerning government hospitals. The lawmaker facilitated the passage of 24 laws that upgrade the existing and establish new public hospitals across the country, including the Universal Healthcare Act (UHC) which mandates the Philipp
RACE IS ON. Senate President Vicente Sotto III delivers his speech during the 145th birth anniversary celebration of his grandfather, the late senator Don Vicente "Inting" Sotto, on Monday (April 18, 2022). In a press conference before the event, he said he will not support calls for any presidential bet to withdraw from the race. (PNA photo by John Rey Saavedra) CEBU CITY - Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday said he will not support calls for any presidential aspirant to withdraw from the race before the May 9 national elections. "Wala akong sinusuportahan na mag-withdraw, kahit sino (I don't support any call to withdraw, not anyone)," he told reporters shortly before delivering a speech on the occasion of his grandfather's 145th birth anniversary here. Sotto, who is running for vice president, issued the remarks to clarify the "true intention" of the press conference of four presidential bets on Easter Sunday which he also attended. He