Elections are coming. If you are a voter, you should know who you are voting for and where they stand, especially when it comes to issues of secularism. Here are senatorial candidate Greco Belgica’s responses on nine important issues, based on GMA News’ Mga Isyu ng Bayan.
Reproductive Health – AGAINST
“Hindi naman tayo overpopulated and the facts are misrepresented. At wala tayong problema sa populasyon. The number one resource of an economy is human resource. Bakit po ang Filipino umaaasenso sa ibang bayan? Dahil meron silang oportunidad. Dito sa ating bayan, sikil… ‘Yan po ang dahilan ng kahirapan, hindi [ang] kabataan. ‘Yung mga bata kapag dumadami, lumalaki ‘yung opportunity ng ating bayan na lumakas at umunlad.”
Sin Tax – AGAINST
“A prohibition law against sin products or vices will not work. Number one, because [having] vices is a personal choice and a moral decision. Hindi po ‘yan napipigilan ng batas… Number two, the government will not reach its goal na itataas daw niyan ang revenue because of the sin products. Why? Ngayon pa lang, dinadaya ang buwis sa sobrang taas, eh ‘di lalong may mas malaking bakahan ang mga kolektor diyan para mailusot ‘yon.”
Cybercrime – AGAINST
“Palagay ko hindi po dapat kinu-curtail ang ating kalayaang magsalita, magbasa, at kumuha ng impormasyon sa kahit anong medium. ‘Yan po ang pinaka-essential na bagay at pag-uumpisahan ng kaunlaran ng bayan, ‘yung kaalaman. I think the government in itself has no right to infringe our liberties to talk and to express ourselves.”
Freedom of Information – FOR
“Dapat ho ipasa. At kahit hindi naipasa, dapat po ang [mga nasa] pamahalaan, incumbent na sa kanila ‘yon, that they should be honest and their standards should be higher than those who are not in elected positions.”
Anti-Political Dynasty – AGAINST
“I am against political dynasties. Sa palagay ko po, hindi tama na ang kayamanan ng buong bayan ay nasa kamay ng iilan. ‘Yon po ang sitwasyon natin dito sa Pilipinas. Pero I don’t think setting up a political dynasty law will work. Number one, sinong boboto? Paano n’yo [pagbobotohan] ‘yan, eh majority ng mga nakaupo, dynasties?”
Divorce – AGAINST
“No, may annulment na.”
Death Penalty – FOR*
“When you have a 12-year-old na matapos kidnapin, ni-rape ng apat na araw tapos pinatay, tapos walang death penalty? Palagay ko merong mga kasalanang nararapat patawan ng kamatayan.”
Same-Sex Marriage – AGAINST
“Hindi puwede. The word ‘marriage’ itself originated from the Bible, so how can there be marriage of male-to-male and female-to-female? Kung gusto nilang magsama, hindi sila puwedeng ikasal. Magsama sila.”
Total Gun Ban – AGAINST
“No. How will you protect yourself? Kapag may gun ban sa ating lahat, sinong mawawalan ng baril? ‘Yung mga legal na nagpapalisensiya ng baril. Eh ‘di lahat tayo disarmed. How will we be able to protect ourselves and our families? Hayaan mo ang taong may hawak na gamit na pamproteksyon sa sarili nila.”
*The source indicates that Belgica is against death penalty; however, the quote clearly suggests that he is for it.
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Who among the 33 senatorial candidates matches your views best? Politi-ko.com can help you find out. (From the makers of Rollcall.ph)
