Seven Philippine presidential hopefuls to watch, from ‘Bongbong’ Marcos to Leni Robredo and Manny Pacquiao
- Two Duterte loyalists, a former boxer, a human rights lawyer, a unionist, the son of a dictator and a former actor are vying for the top job
- Three candidates want Beijing to respect the Philippines’ rights in the South China Sea, while two champion the death penalty and one supports same-sex marriage
Ninety-seven candidates have filed to run for the presidency, but when the election commission prunes the list by mid-December, rejecting nuisance candidates and those not capable of running a national campaign, there will probably be seven left.
Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao
Bailiwick: Sarangani | Age: 42
Party and positions: Running under PROMDI (Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives). Thanks to his stellar boxing career, Pacquiao is one of the wealthiest candidates. He is also one of the youngest. Pacquiao is a senator, yet has rarely attended legislative sessions despite promising to do so. He is hoping to turn his popularity as one of the world’s greatest boxers into political capital, as are various members of his family who are also running for office.
Platform: Wants to be “friends” with China but at the same time wants to protect the Philippines’ rights in the South China Sea. Duterte has accused him of having a “very shallow knowledge” of the South China Sea issue. Pacquiao has vowed to fight corruption and poverty and stop the brutal war on drugs.
Running mate: Jose “Lito” Atienza Jnr (Bailiwick: Manila | Age: 80). Also running under PROMDI, former House deputy speaker Atienza is against the death penalty and birth control. When he was the mayor of Manila, the capital in 2005 signed a sister-city agreement with Beijing. Advocates closer relations with China.
Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jnr
Bailiwick: Ilocos | Age: 64