Where do the 2022 Vice Presidential Candidates stand on key issues?

Filipinos consider it helpful to know where the Vice Presidential aspirants stand on key issues that have defined the lives of the everyday Filipino under the Duterte rule. In this article, we’ll look at two key issues: the West Philippine Sea and the COVID pandemic; and what each candidate stands for in each issue.

1.    Sara Duterte-Carpio

West Philippine Sea: At the time of writing this article, Duterte-Carpio has not proclaimed her stances on the WPS as a VP candidate. However, it is worth noting that in 2019, she stated that there is no need to appeal to the Chinese government to let in Filipino fisherfolk to the WPS as the problem lies with the LGUs.

COVID: Because Duterte-Carpio’s VP bid is still premature, she has yet to unveil her COVID platforms as a VP candidate.

2.    Kiko Pangilinan

West Philippine Sea: Pangilinan has been very vocal against condemning the movements of the Chinese government. He believes that the resources found in WPS are key to addressing hunger in the country. He had also called for China to seize all activities which may lead to poisoning the food sources in WPS.

COVID: Pangilinan’s main COVID goal is to fight the hunger caused by the COVID pandemic. This would include securing the economy and food sources first, as well as boosting the holistic health of medical frontliners. Pangilinan also advocates for granting tax perks to buying locally made pandemic response supplies, such as PPEs and face masks.

3.    Tito Sotto

West Philippine Sea: Sotto, like his Presidential running mate Ping Lacson, agrees in having a joint exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea, with a 60-40 split favoring the Philippines. It is also worth noting that in June of this year, Sotto filed a bill to the Senate for creating the Philippines’ own maritime zones, to hopefully ‘preserve and protect’ the country’s maritime rights.

COVID: In September, Sotto had urged the executive government to rethink its COVID-response that is heavily reliant on the vaccine to protect the government. He also plans to not have any more lockdowns if he, and his running mate, would get lucky in the elections due to the fact that lockdowns do more harm than good to the economy and the people.