Assessing the
Presidential
Candidates
"If your actions inspire others to
dream more, learn more, do more
and become more, you are a
leader."
-John Quincy Adams,
6th President of the United
States
MANUEL BAMBA VILLAR, JR.
Birthday: December 13, 1949
Mother: Curita Bamba
Father: Manuel Montalban Villar, Sr.
Spouse: Cynthia Aguilar Villar
Political Party: Nacionalista
BENIGNO SIMEON COJUANGCO
AQUINO III
Birthday: February 8, 1960
Mother: Corazon Aquino
Father: Benigno Aquino Jr.
Political Party: Liberal
RICHARD JUICO GORDON
Birthday: August 5, 1945
Mother: Amelia Juico Gordon
Father: James Leonard T. Gordon
Spouse: Katherine Gordon
Political Party: Bagumbayan-VNP
GILBERT COJUANGCO TEODORO, JR.
Birthday: June 14, 1964
Mother: Mercedes Cojuangco Teodoro
Father: Gilberto Teodoro, Sr.
Spouse: Monica Prieto-Teodoro
Political Party: LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD
JOSE MARCELO EJERCITO
Birthday: April 19, 1937
Mother: Maria Marcelo
Father: Emilio Ejercito
Spouse: Loi Ejercito
Political Party: PMP
MARIA ANA CONSUELO MADRIGAL
VALADE
Birthday: April 26, 1956
Mother: Amanda Abad Santos
Madrigal
Father: Antonio Madrigal
Spouse: Eric Jean Claude
Dudoignon Valade
Political Party: Independent
EDDIE C. VILLANUEVA
Birthday: October 6, 1946
Civil Status: married
Spouse: Dr. Adoracion Villanueva
Political Party: Bangon Pilipinas
NICANOR JESUS PINEDA PERLAS III
Birthday: January 10, 1950
Mother: Anuciacion M. Pineda
Father: Jesus C. Perlas
Political Party: Independent
JOHN CARLOS G. DELOS REYES
Birthday: February 14, 1970
Spouse: Dunia Valenzuela
Political Party: Ang Kapatiran
ON VFA
Aquino: “Yes, but subject
to review, specifically the
differences in rights of
Filipinos vis-a-vis the
Visiting Forces
Agreement”
 Delos Reyes opposed the
way US soldiers evade
the provision regarding
their short term stay in
the country

ON VFA
Perlas: “if the VFA violates the Constitution, it
should be stopped.”
 Teodoro is into entering into more alliances to
build confidence and cooperation among troops.
 Villanueva is in favor of the VFA as long as its
aim is to help the Filipino soldiers.
 Villar: “the benefits, quantifiable or
unquantifiable, that the Philippine military are
getting as a result of the Visiting Forces
Agreement are not enough to justify its
continuation”

ON VFA
Estrada is one of the Senators who opposed the
extension of the US Military Bases in Subic in
1991; he pushed for VFA during his presidency
saying that it can bring good things to the
country.
 Gordon believes that the VFA will maintain our
good relationship with the US and thus we can
seek their help in times of calamity
 Madrigal is against the VFA because foreign
military exercises in the country meant
psychological, physical and sexual abuse against
women and children

ON THE PEACE PROCESS

Aquino would work
for a comprehensive
settlement with the
MILF and the
Communist Party of
the Philippines–
New People’s
Army–National
Democratic Front
during his six-year
term
ON THE PEACE PROCESS
Madrigal (and Trillanes,) through PS Resolution
No.91, called for the investigation of the status of
the peace agreements between GRP and MILF
and MNLF.
 Perlas crafted a manual that advances
Sustainable Integrated Area Development and
modern social technologies as means to improve
livelihood and business opportunities for former
combatants involved in the conflict in Mindanao.
 Teodoro: From simply trying to win the “hearts
and minds” of communities sympathetic to
insurgents, the government is now focusing on
using force against armed groups

ON THE PEACE PROCESS
In the “new Philippines” that Bro. Eddie is
aspiring, all Filipinos, Muslims or Christians,
shall be treated equally.
 In December 2007, then Senate President Manny
Villar led the Senate in opposing the
reinstatement of the Anti-Subversion law.
 delos Reyes: decentralization could spread
development to different regions especially in
Mindanao.
 Estrada declared an all out war against the Moros
in 2001
 Gordon believes that Mindanao needs real fiscal
autonomy.

ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Aquino’s family were
involved in the Mendiola
Massacre and the
Hacienda Luisita
Massacre.
 Delos Reyes prioritized the
institutionalization of
Barangay Human Rights
Action Centers for the
prevention of human
rights violation within the
barangays.

ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Eddie Villanueva is in favor of restoring death
penalty.
 Villar: “The commitment of our government to
assume an active participation in the ASEAN
human rights body is laudable”
 KARAPATAN documented cases of illegal
arrests, torture, imprisonment, looting and arson
during Estrada’s regime.
 Jamby Madrigal once called for the investigation
of an alleged black list of human rights advocates
and critics of the administration

ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Aquino: from strong
statements for RH to
responsible parenthood
 The Estrada presidency
strongly supported family
planning.
 Gordon: overpopulation is
not the problem but rather
the failure of the
government to deliver
services effectively

ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Perlas is open to the use of contraceptives but it
should be backed with proper education. He is
against abortion
 Teodoro: initially pro-RH Bill but then proposed
giving incentives to couples who use natural
method in family planning.
 JC delos Reyes opposes the RH bill because it is
“dangerous”
 Madrigal: reproductive health should be
information-driven rather than consumer-driven

ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Villanueva: “There is reason to oppose those
portions because five years old will be exposed to
sex education. Age of maturity (must be
considered)…. Personally, I’m for responsible
parenthood. It is important to address
overpopulation but we must not sacrifice
morality. ”
 Senator Manuel Villar has always been against
the reproductive health bill

ON LAND REFORM
Aquino on Hacienda Luisita
 Estrada’s A.O. 1 and A.O. 9
 Gordon was one of the 12
senators who voted for the
extension of CARP.
 Perlas aims to integrate a
support component to the
implementation of CARP
 Teodoro: disputed lands in Fort
Magsaysay
 Villar : land conversions

ON INDUSTRIALIZATION
Perlas is for sustainable
development.
 Madrigal: “I do not believe
in nuclear power because it
can shut off any efforts for
alternative energy”; no to
JPEPA
 Gordon was ready to vote on
JPEPA, with the agreement
that Japan would not export
toxic waste to the
Philippines

ON INDUSTRIALIZATION
Senator Aquino voted “no” on the controversial
JPEPA
 delos Reyes spearheaded protests against the
proposed coal power plant in Subic
 Villar voted “yes” to JPEPA

ON FOREIGN DEBT
the Estrada administration abused both domestic
and foreign borrowing like no other president did
(Jose Maria Sison, 1999)
 Teodoro: It is sometimes better to borrow than
increase citizens’ taxes
 Villanueva: Foreign debt payments should be
suspended by revoking the automatic debt
servicing law or by negotiating with foreign
creditors
 Villar : We must deviate from our culture of
excessive borrowing.

ON CORRUPTION
Aquino: SCTex
overpricing
 JC delos Reyes filed
numerous cases before
the Ombudsman
against high ranking
officials.
 Estrada was charged
with 4 counts of
corruption.

ON CORRUPTION
Madrigal: “the people who insert for their own
good should be charged with plunder”
 Perlas aided in unveiling massive bribery and
fraud regarding the purchase and construction of
the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.
 Gordon to de Venecia: “When you come in as the
son of the Speaker and you make contract offers
to the government, that does not look good, at the
very least… that means you are trying to induce,
to propose, and that is covered under the anti
graft and corruption practices act”

ON CORRUPTION
During the height of the C-5 controversy, Enrile
exposed that Villar tried to bribe him in exchange
of a favorable decision regarding the matter.
Unsurprisingly, Villar denied the allegations
 Teodoro: The standards of living of government
officials should be improved and they should be
given incentives to be honest
 Villanueva: Corruption is stealing and it is
against the law of God

ON POVERTY
Teodoro: The gap between the rich and poor can
be decreased through a transfer of wealth or
through private incentives.
 Villar has been critical regarding the Arroyo
administration’s discreet battle against the
media saying that they should focus more on
fighting poverty, illiteracy and joblessness.
 Perlas aided UNICEF in their Family Food
Production Program and assisted Plan
International in improving their child
development program in the country

SUMMARY OF STANDS
VFA
RH
Poverty
changed
Human
Rights
failed
Aquino
Pro
Villar
Anti
Anti
passed
failed
failed
Estrada
Pro
Pro
failed
failed
failed
Teodoro
Pro
changed
failed
Passed**
Passed**
Gordon
Pro
Anti
Madrigal
Anti
Pro
passed
Villanueva
Pro
For
amendments
Pro death
penalty
Perlas
Anti
Pro
Delos Reyes
Anti
Anti
**based on debates
Corruption
failed
passed
passed
Passed**
Passed**
Passed**
passed
passed
passed
passed
ON POVERTY
JC delos Reyes was the
Executive director of
Breaking the Yoke of Poverty
Foundation.
 Estrada failed to actualize
his pro-poor platform during
his presidency.
 Madrigal stated that we
should advocate economic
policies that benefit the
majority instead of the
oligarchs

SUMMARY OF STANDS
Industrialization
Aquino
Failed
Villar
Failed
Foreign Debt
Land Reform
Peace Process
Failed
Passed**
passed
Failed
Estrada
failed
Failed
Failed
Teodoro
Better to borrow
than raise taxes
Failed
Failed
Gordon
Madrigal
passed
passed
Villanueva
Passed
Passed**
Perlas
passed
Delos Reyes
Passed
**based on debates
Passed**
Passed**
passed
Passed**
NET WORTH
Candidate
Villar
Estrada
Teodoro
Madrigal
Gordon
Aquino
Net Worth
$530 million (2009)
P600 million **
P232.43 million (2008)
P 145,617,669.00 (2008)
P 26.52 million (2007)
P13.94 million (2007)
** 14 out of 66 companies of which Estrada and
his family are shareholders are already worth
P600 million
Source: PCIJ, Forbes Magazine
CAMPAIGN SPENDING
FROM FEB 9 TO MARCH 8
Candidate
Amount
Villar
P106 million
Aquino
P83 million
Estrada
P 72 million
Gordon
P 48 million
Teodoro
P266,000 (first month only)
Source: PCIJ
Source: Pulse Asia
Source: Pulse Asia
Source: Pulse Asia