VOL. XXX NO. 12 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 MONday : FEBRUaRy 22, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph
Church supports ‘biblical’ Pacquiao
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TV DEBATE: SNIPING, BUT NO FIREWORKS
By Sandy Araneta, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Christine F. Herrera and Rio N. Araja
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—All five candidates for president used the first live television debate in more than two decades and their first gathering on a single stage on Sunday night to showcase their platforms of government and to engage in some sniping, as well. There were no heated exchanges in the two-hour debate Sunday night in Cagayan de Oro City, hosted and officially sanctioned by the Commission on Elections, but the candidates used some of the
time allotted them to take potshots at their opponents. Administration candidate Manuel Roxas II, who has been trailing in all the opinion polls, took the offensive in his opening
statement, by comparing the president to a family driver to whom people would entrust their children. “Who would you place your trust in to transport your children safely?” he said in Filipino. “To a person who is a crook and who has been charged with stealing? To someone who is hot-headed and might cause accidents? To someone who is just learning to drive?” Although Roxas did not name names, it was clear that he was referring to Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Grace Poe.
Later during the debate, Roxas returned to Poe’s inexperience, saying the presidency was not a position for an OJT (on-the-job trainee). Poe shot back, saying she didn’t need long years of experience to know that Roxas had failed at his jobs at the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Transportation and Communications, both of which were investigated in the Senate. Roxas was secretary of the DILG when 44 police commandos were slaughtered in Mamasapano. He has also been blamed for the dete-
rioration of Metro Manila’s commuter train system, which was his responsibility as Transportation secretary. Binay also criticized Roxas for his dismal performance at the DILG and DoTC and promised that the “analysis paralysis” that characterized the Aquino administration would not happen under his leadership. The vice president also hit the administration for its lack of compassion, and said Roxas failed to address the mess in the MRT or help the survivors of Super Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ in Leyte. Next page
First debate. This screen grab shows the five presidential candidates—from left, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe and former Secretary Mar Roxas—striking a pose for the camera after their first-ever televised debate. LINO SANTOS
No politics in Edsa rites, says Palace
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Roxas defends ex-aide in SSS pay scandal By Joyce Pangco Pañares ADMINISTRATION standard bearer Manuel Roxas II defended his former chief-of-staff, Eliza Antonino, whose seven-figure salary as commissioner of the Social Security System came under heavy criticism after President Benigno Aquino III vetoed a bill to raise monthly pensions by P2,000 a month for retirees.
“Regarding the photo being circulated online, it is not true that she receives that amount. Executive Order No. 24 prescribes rules to govern compensation of Board of Directors/Trustees in government-owned and/or -controlled corporations and government financial institutions. It is clear that the maximum a member can receive (for Class A GOCCs) is P960,000 per year.
Anything above that is remitted to the GOCC,” Roxas said on his Twitter account. In Roxas’ Facebook campaign page, the presidential aspirant’s camp wrote: “Don’t believe everything you read in social media. Enemies of good governance will fabricate stories just to discredit PNoy, Mar Roxas and their allies. Read, Next page ask and research.”