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By Rosemarie Caasi, abs-cbnNEWS.com Halalan 2010 Volunteer | 04/19/2010 12:46 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Two senatorial candidates continued the clash on reproductive health issue during the ABS-CBN’s HARAPAN: Mga Isyu ng Bayan debate Sunday night at La Consolacion College, Manila.

Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel of the Liberal Party (LP) and, and former senator Francisco Tatad of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) were paired against each other to debate on the controversial House Bill 5043, commonly known as the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill. (Read: Winners, losers in HARAPAN senatorial debate)
Rep. Hontiveros-Baraquel, a co-author of the RH Bill, said she will re-file the RH Bill once she wins a seat in the senate. Congressmen shelved the Church-opposed RH Bill when they failed to accommodate the HB 5043 before they went on recess last February.

Tatad, a two-time senator, said the RH bill will only ruin the family and society. Baraquel countered, saying those who support the bill are pro-life.

The debate, which was divided in three rounds, was in a question-and-answer format and the 12 senatorial candidates who participated were given limited time to frame their questions and answers. After each round, audience in different locations in the country were asked whether they find they believe the senatorial aspirant to be saying the truth or not.

The debates were simulcast live on ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN News Channel and abs-cbnNEWS.com

“Kung totoo tayong pro-life, dapat suportahan ang reproductive health (If we are pro-life, we must support the reproductive health),” said the congresswoman.
On the other hand, Sen. Kit Tatad said the root of the country’s problem had become “immorality.”

11 die everyday
Rep. Hontiveros-Baraquel stressed that the reproductive health program will lessen the fatality and abortion rate in the country.
She cited data, including how 11 women die every day due to complications in pregnancy and child delivery, and how about 800,000 engages in abortion annually because of unwanted pregnancy.

Tatad, when asked if it was “okey” with him that those women die due to lack of information and services addressing their reproductive health, said a health program will lessen the casualties.
He stood his ground, however, that the use of contraceptives and abortion lessen maternal risks.

He cited how Cagayan and Sorsogon provinces where, according to him, showed that proper services prevents maternal death.
In her rebuttal, Hontiveros pointed out that the RH Bill addresses health issues of both men and women and that abortion is not part of the bill.
The audience rated Tatad 48.2 % for truthfulness, and 51.1 % untruthfulness.
Abortion, US influence

Tatad, on his turn to post a question, asked Hontiveros how the new RH bill could prevent America from influencing the Philippine government by pushing abortion.
He quoted US State Secretary Hilary Clinton who addressed the US House of Representatives on April 22, 2009 when she reportedly said “reproductive health involves access to abortion, and the Obama presidency is committed to abolish all barriers to that access.”

Hontiveros replied that Sen. Aquino (Benigno Aquino III), the presidential bet of the Liberal Party, is committed to responsible parenthood.

“Ang RH bill as it is...ay hindi ililigalisa ang abortion. Anuman ang sabihin o di sabihin ng isang presidente at state secretary ng ibang bansa, ang isinusulong po ng RH bill ay ang access sa impormasyon, sa serbisyo at kung pipiliin hindi natural family planning kundi modern family planning methods, mga produkto para sa bawat babae at kanyang asawa o kapartner para maplanno ang kanilang pamilya at maibuhay sila sa isang makataong antas ng pamumuhay. (The RH Bill, according to its written definition, will not legalize abortion. No matter what a president or state secretary of another country will say, RH bill seeks access to information and services and choice between natural and modern family planning method and products for the women and her partner to attain better living)”

Tatad countered with two points—the RH bill is unconstitutional (citing Section 12 and Article 15 of the Constitution, and that he doubts that Sen. Aquino could resists American influence.

Hontiveros got 83. 7 % truthfulness, and 16.3 % untruthfulness ratings.
Choice of contraceptives, AIDS

When asked by a supporter of Rep. Hontiveros if he thinks that having a choice to use contraceptives is “bad,” Tatad replied “no,” explaining that the choice is for couples to make.

He stressed, too, that there is no law that hinders anyone to use contraceptives. What he opposes in the RH Bill is how the government would have to provide the modern contraception and stabilization device for the couple.

Hontiveros said the “heart of the bill” is the choice of method of family planning.
Tatad was rated 28. 3% truthfulness and 70.7 untruthfulness for this question.
Meanwhile, Tatad’s supporter pointed to Hontiveros an “empirical data from UN” that Thailand has 80 times worse AIDS cases compared to the Philippines despite its “perfect condom use” campaign.

Hontiveros said Tatad’s supporter got a wrong data, explaining that the success of Thailand on its campaign in the use of condom is for the use of condom to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Tatad disagreed with the congresswoman, stressing that the experts’ finding showed that pandemic raised when condom use started. He also emphasized a high tendency of condom failure.
Hontiveros got 85.0 % truthfulness, and 15.0 % untruthfulness for the question.

as of 04/19/2010 12:48 PM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/19/10/hontiveros-tatad-debate-rh-bill

By David Dizon, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 04/19/2010 12:02 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Bayan Muna party-list representative and senatorial candidate Satur Ocampo lost the first round of debates against rival senatorial bet, Bantay party-list Rep. Jovito Palparan, in ABS-CBN's HARAPAN: Mga Isyu ng Bayan debates Sunday night at La Consolacion College in Manila.

The debate, the first ever of its kind among rival senatorial candidates, again made use of the Wireless Audience Response System (WARS), which polled audience response from 180 select viewers from Dagupan, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro and Manila.
Palparan, a former Army major general who was nicknamed "the butcher" for various human rights violations, fired the first salvo against Ocampo by asking the former co-founder of the National Democratic Front why he is quick to condemn the military and police for various human rights violations and slow to condemn atrocities committed by the New People's Army.

Ocampo said he has condemned various human rights violations in the country including the November 23 Maguindanao massacre allegedly committed by armed supporters of the Ampatuan clan. He also pointed out that the NPA punishes its members who are proven to have committed rights violations.

"Comparatively, in the last 40 years, in the reports of the Commission on Human Rights, the United Nations and the US State Department, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is the leading human rights violator when they should be the ones protecting human rights. Ang mga NPA kapag nakagawa sila ng paglabag, kanilang ina-acknowledge. Meron pong disiplina sa internal law na kanilang inaayos para panagutin ang mga nagkakasala," he told Palparan.

He also pointed out that violations committed by the NPA could not be investigated by both the government and the communist movement after President Arroyo suspended the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and International Law (CAHR-IHL).

Palparan, however, pointed out that Ocampo had yet to speak out against NPA atrocities committed in Davao and Samar, Leyte. "Kakaunti lang ba ang masasabi mong napatay ng NPA, na-masaker? All over the country, napakarami nilang napatay. Ni isa man lang dito, wala kayong kinondena. Ibig sabihin niyan, pabayaan natin silang pumatay nang ganun-ganun na lang? Accepted ba iyan sa iyo?" he asked.

He noted that there are many lawmakers sympathetic to the communist movement in Congress who could pass laws that would help the country.

For his part, Ocampo questioned why Palparan continued to accuse him of being a top CPP-NPA leader despite a Supreme Court ruling that cleared him of any links to the communist rebellion.

In response, the former Army official said he still believes that Ocampo is a top leader of the NPA and challenged the lawmaker to stop the atrocities committed by the rebel group. "In a democracy, we can craft programs that would avoid violence. Yun lang ang aming gusto dito. Na magbaba kayo ng baril at mag-usap-usap tayo at magkatulungan tayo," he said.

To which, Ocampo replied: "Hindi naman ako nagdadala ng baril ngayon eh. Siyam na taon na ako nasa Kongreso. Nagpasa ako ng mga batas para sa kapakanan ng mga mahihirap."

He reiterated that he does not support the armed struggle and that after being released from jail, he has dedicated his life to uphold people's rights in a legal manner.

After the first round, 73.7% of the WARS audience said they did not believe Ocampo while only 26.3% said they believed the Bayan Muna lawmaker.
On the other hand, 57.1% of the WARS audience said they believed Palparan while 42.9% said they did not believe him. David Dizon, abs-cbnNEWS.com
as of 04/19/2010 12:32 AM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/18/10/satur-loses-1st-round-vs-palp...

By Bea C. Cupin, abs-cbnNEWS.com Halalan 2010 Volunteer | 04/19/2010 7:07 AM
MANILA, Philippines—Both candidates were asked tough, hard-hitting questions on poverty and agriculture but only one was the clear victor in the debate.
Gabriela party-list representative Liza Maza lost the first and second round of debates against Bukidnon 1st district representative Neric Acosta in ABS-CBN’s HARAPAN: Mga Isyu ng Bayan, according to real-time feedback from select audience members using the Wireless Audience Response System (WARS).
Maza began the discussion by emphasizing the need for the local agriculture industry to be developed. “Ang susi ay ang usapin ng lupa. Dapat maresolbahan ito,” said Maza. She added that land must be given to farmers in order to develop local industries.
Acosta meanwhile said that education was the key to alleviating poverty in the country. “Ang susi ng kaunlaran ay mga kabataan sa kanayunan na dapat makapag-aral at makapagtrabaho nang maayos,” he said.

On Luisita
The first round featured candidates asking each other questions on the issues assigned to them. Maza opened the round by asking Acosta’s take on the temporary restraining order that prevents land distribution in Hacienda Luisita, which is partly owned by the family of Liberal Party presidential bet Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.
Acosta said Aquino is not the sole owner of Luisita and that the LP bet intends on fully implementing Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER).
Maza rebutted by saying that the stock distribution option being implemented in Luisitia is unconstitutional. According to Maza, the law dictates that land should be distributed directly. The round ended with 76% of the audience believing in what Acosta said.

Revolutionary taxes
For his part, Acosta took Maza to task for the "revolutionary taxes" being imposed by the communist New People's Army. Acosta is the the 1st district representative of Bukidnon.
Maza answered by saying that people join revolutionary groups because they lack other, better opportunities. “Napipilitan sumama sa armadong pakikibaka [ang mga tao] kaya dapat tuldukan natin ang agrarian reform,” said Maza.
She added that politics has to change because traditional politicians were still in power. “Hawak ng elitista ang gobyerno,” she added.
The round ended however, with 60% of the audience not believing in Maza.

Party affiliations
The second round of the debate featured the candidate’s supporters asking questions. Both questions were centered on the parties the two candidates are in.
“Paano ninyo mapapaniwala ang sambayanan kung ang mga kasama mo ang mga nagsulong ng [economic policies ni President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]?” asked Maza’s supporter.
Acosta explained that GMA’s former cabinet members defected after seeing the inefficiency and corruption in the government. “Klaro sa [Liberal Party] na [kailangan] maninindigan kung ano ang tama at maging tapat sa taong bayan,” said Acosta.
Maza rebutted by saying that despite their deflection from GMA, if the same people serve the cabinet in an Aquino presidency, nothing new would happen. Despite this, over a third of the audience (66%) believed in what Acosta had to say.
Maza meanwhile was asked about her allegiance to the Nacionalista Party (NP), who according to the Acosta supporter, is shrouded in controversy because of its standard bearer Manny Villar. An Acosta supporter also brought up the issue of former president Ferdinand Marcos’ son in the NP slate.
Maza answered that his discussion with Villar included a common goal of improving agriculture in the country and genuine agrarian reform. The round ended with three-fourths of the audience (75%) not believing Maza’s statements.

Confidence, public perception
The two candidates were a study in contrasts in their speaking styles. While Acosta came off as cool and composed, Maza seemed to be unsure at certain moments.
Numerous Maza supporters expressed disappointment over her performance in the debate. “Maza is NOT a good public speaker,” commented one user (@ShockShockMe). He went on to explain however, that he would vote for both Maza and Acosta.
Another user called the debate “a weird one.” “Neither said much about the issues facing their parties,” said another user (@iggyignacio). “Maza completely skipped the Marcos issue… and Acosta’s defense of those LP bandwagon jumpers is sketchy."

as of 04/19/2010 10:47 AM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/18/10/contrast-styles-mark-acosta-m...

By David Dizon, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 04/19/2010 7:32 AM

MANILA, Philippines - As expected, there were winners and losers among the 12 senatorial candidates who participated in ABS-CBN’s HARAPAN: Mga Isyu ng Bayan debate Sunday night at La Consolacion College, Manila.

At least three candidates – Nacionalista Party’s Adel Tamano and Liberal Party bets Neric Acosta and Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel – topped the debates after getting consistently high votes in text and online polls as well as the wireless audience response system (WARS), which gauged audience reaction to the candidates.

On the other hand, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino bet Francisco “Kit” Tatad rated poorly in the WARS and online polls while placing only eighth in number of text votes in the debate. (Read: Results of HARAPAN senatorial debate voting)

The 12 candidates -- Tamano, Acosta, Hontiveros-Baraquel, Tatad, Liza Maza (NP), Imbong, JV Bautista (PMP), Silvestre Bello III (Lakas-Kampi CMD), Kata Inocencio (Bangon Pilipinas, Raul Lambino (Lakas-Kampi CMD), Satur Ocampo (NP) and Jovito Palparan -- were invited based on the six issues to be discussed during the debate.

The debates were simulcast live on ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN News Channel and abs-cbnNEWS.com. It will be replayed on Studio 23 and The Filipino Channel.

Ocampo and Palparan provided plenty of fireworks at the start of the debate as they took on the issue of human rights violations. (Read: Satur loses 1st round vs Palparan in HARAPAN debate)

Ocampo, congressional representative of the leftist Bayan Muna party-list and a guest candidate of the NP, castigated the Armed Forces of the Philippines for being the country’s number 1 human rights violator.

On the other hand, Palparan scored Ocampo for failing to condemn the atrocities committed by the New People’s Army.

Members of the WARS audiences, numbering 180 select viewers from Manila, Dagupan, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro, saw Palparan as the clear winner in the debate. After the first round, 73.7% of the WARS audience said they did not believe Ocampo while only 26.3% said they believed the Bayan Muna lawmaker. He fared no better in the second round, getting 77.4% disapproval and 22.6% approval from the WARS audience.

Palparan had higher ratings in the WARS polls for both rounds of the debate. A total of 57.1% of WARS audience said they believed the former military official’s answers in the first round, while 51.8% said they believed him in the second round.
Ocampo said Palparan clearly exploited anti-communist sentiment to get higher ratings in the debate.

“Mukhang malakas ang anti-communist sentiments na ine-exploit ni Palparan, sa kabila ng desisyon ng korte at ng termino ko sa Congress. I’m sorry about it. Akala ko wala na ganyang bias, pero halata ang intensified campaign nila. Siya’y pinoproteksyonan ni Gloria (Arroyo),” he said.

Tamano gets high marks
If Ocampo and Palparan started off the debate on a tense note, the other candidates were more cordial to one another.

Tamano’s face-off with Bello on the issue of justice and accountability was more laid back as the two even backed each other’s positions. (Read: Tamano, Bello play it safe in political debate)

Bello supported Tamano for his refusal to reimpose the death penalty while the latter supported the Lakas bet’s proposal for a permanent peace commission that would handle all peace negotiations with rebel groups.

Tamano, however, revealed that he held back on a rebuttal against Bello on the issue of holding President Arroyo accountable for various corruption scandals under her administration.

He said there is already strong evidence against President Arroyo and that she should be prosecuted.

He also said that his diplomatic stance in the debate helped him get the most text votes in the debate, and that it was indicative of the people’s dislike for mudslinging.

Tamano got 18.6% of the HARAPAN text votes as of 12:47 a.m., placing him on the top of the list of 12 candidates who joined the debates. He also received high marks in the Wireless Audience Response System, with 92.2% approval rating in the 1st round of the debate and 83.3% approval in the second round.
Contrasts

Some of the debates also showed contrasts on the way the candidates presented their arguments.

Hontiveros-Baraquel was calm and collected as she extolled on the virtues of the reproductive health bill. On the other hand, Tatad was more forceful in saying he is firmly against contraception and abortions, which is allegedly being supported by the RH bill. (Read: Hontiveros, Tatad debate on RH Bill)

A supporter of the PMP candidate also showed data on the low success rate of condoms to stop the spread of sexually transmitted illnesses.

Hontiveros-Baraquel was the clear winner in the exchange, getting higher scores than Tatad in the text, online and WARS polls. Tatad, however, showed no ill-will against his rival and even raised the LP bet’s hand after the debate.

He also blamed the media for making critics of the RH bill unpopular.
“I don’t know who are judging us if they understood us or not. It’s a complicated issue, not everyone understands it,” he told ABS-CBN.

He added: “The media has propagated a campaign on the RH bill. It has created a misimpression about it. It might have made my stand unpopular.”

The debate between Acosta and Maza also showed the contrast between the two senatorial bets’ solutions to alleviating poverty. Maza emphasized the need to develop the local agriculture industry while Acosta focused on beefing up the education sector. (Read: A contrast of styles mark Acosta-Maza exchange)

Both candidates traded barbs at each other for their political allegiances. Maza scored the defection of several key allies of President Arroyo to the Liberal Party and said the current stock distribution option in Hacienda Luisita is unconstitutional. LP presidential bet Noynoy Aquino’s family is a part owner of the hacienda.

On the other hand, Acosta scored the “revolutionary taxes” imposed by communist guerrillas, which are allegedly being protected by Maza. He also noted that Maza’s inclusion in the Nacionalista Party slate has put her on equal footing with fellow NP senatorial bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

Bautista and Lambino, meanwhile, got almost an equal percentage of votes through WARS while tackling the issue of good governance.
Finally, Inocencio and Imbong were equally respectful of each other’s positions on the issue of the separation of church and state.

Harapan is 5th top trending topic on Twitter
The Harapan debate again set a new record after the hashtag “harapan” became the 5th highest trending topic on Twitter at the height of the debate late Sunday.

Some Filipinos relied entirely on Twitter for their Harapan coverage, with some commenting that with such comprehensive commentary on #harapan, they felt they hardly needed to see the actual show:

One overseas Filipino wrote: “Frustrated that I can't watch #harapan. I may not be in the country but I'm a registered overseas voter!

Thanks for the updates tweeps.”
Another wrote: “Stopped watching #harapan. I'll read the updates on twitter nalang haha. Sakit sa ulo!”

The popularity of #harapan also had an unexpected effect: confused foreigners wandering into the discussion. Indonesian posters took to posting their hopes and wishes because harapan, while meaning “face-off” in Filipino, means “hope” or “wish” in Bahasa Indonesian. With reports from Niko Baua, ABS-CBN News, and Michal de Tagle, abs-cbnNEWS.com Halalan 2010 Volunteer

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/18/10/winners-losers-harapan-senato...