8 senatorial bets vote on key issues during forum

During a televised senatorial forum organized by CNN Philippines on Sunday, eight senatorial candidates were asked questions on some key issues. The only had to answer “yes” or “no.”

The senatorial candidates at the forum were Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, Sen. Bam Aquino, former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino, Sen. JV Ejercito, and former Sens. Juan Ponce Enrile and Sergio Osmeña were asked questions that were answerable by “yes” or “no.”

The questions revolved around reimposing death penalty on drug-related crimes, the President’s health, legalizing marijuana, divorce, and granting same-sex legal rights in status under the current civil union law.

QUESTION: Do you support reimposing the death penalty for drug-related crimes?

YES:

Dela Rosa
Ejercito
Tolentino

NO:

Alejano
Aquino
Diokno
Enrile
Osmeña

On March 7, 2017, the House of Representatives passed on third and final reading House Bill 4727 or an act imposing the death penalty on drug-related offenses.

READ: House approves death penalty bill with 217 yes votes

However, the said measure remains stagnant in Congress as the Senate has yet to act on the lower chamber’s controversial proposed law.

Just recently, a lawmaker renewed his call on the Senate for the passage of the bill.

READ: Rep. Barbers renews call to restore death penalty vs drug traffickers

QUESTION: The Constitution states that the public should be informed incase of serious illness of the President of the Philippines, should the president authorize the issuance of a medical bulletins about his health?

YES:

Alejano
Aquino
Dela Rosa
Chel Diokno
Ejercito
Enrile
Osmeña
Tolentino

Recently, the President’s health sparked speculations and became a topic of concern after it was revealed that he had undergone an endoscopy and colonoscopy to diagnose any abnormality in his digestive tract and colon.

READ: Duterte: I have no cancer

QUESTION: Should medical marijuana be legalized?

YES:

Diokno
JV Ejercito
Enrile
Osmeña

NO:

Alejano
Aquino
Dela Rosa
Tolentino

President Rodrigo Duterte has said he favors of legalizing medical marijuana but will push for a stricter regulation to ensure it will be offered only to those who really need it.

READ: Duterte favors medical marijuana

QUESTION: Are you in favor of divorce if the marriage is irreconcilable or abusive?

YES:

Diokno
Ejercito
Enrile
Osmeña

NO:

Alejano
Aquino
Rosa
Tolentino

In March, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a measure that seeks to legalize absolute divorce and dissolution of marriage in the country.

The Philippines is one of the two countries where divorce is not allowed. The other is the Vatican.

READ: House approves divorce bill on 3rd and final reading

QUESTION: Are you in favor of granting same-sex couples legal rights in status under the current civil union bill?

YES:

Aquino
Dela Rosa
Tolentino
Diokno
Ejercito
Enrile
Osmeña

NO:

Alejano

READ: SC preparing for June 19 oral arguments on same-sex marriage

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