James Buates News Today

For the fisherfolk of Zambales, this election is an opportunity to be heard of their hardships as the tension in the West Philippine Sea continues. Should these politicians win, they vow to hold them to account and make sure these are campaign jokes no more.

Xandra Bisenio, daughter of detained peace consultant Rey Casambre, said the next president should address the root causes of the armed conflict.

Apart from supporting the ICC probe, families of tokhang victims say it's also important for the country’s next leaders to have concrete plans and programs for the victims of President Duterte’s drug war. Their plight and search for justice must be acknowledged at the very least.

As Filipinos celebrate the 36th year since they toppled a dictatorship, journalists here said the issue of the non-renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise is an election issue that presidential aspirants should look into.

"The views of candidates on the ATA [Anti-Terror Act] are relevant in weighing their standpoint on human rights and democracy - with the ATA considered by petitioners at the Supreme Court as a law that can be most dangerously used to silence political dissent."

“This is based on our united position on key issues such as the pandemic response, improving the lives of workers, farmers, the poor, and the indigenous peoples, the environment, human rights, and the pursuit of peace and sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea and the entire country.”

For Joshua San Pedro, co-convenor of the Coalition for People’s Right to Health, corruption will persist until a comprehensive public health care is established and there are no more gaps in social services that may be taken advantage of and profited from.