Benjie Oliveros | Measuring the Candidates for the Presidency

* Would he continue with the policies of the Arroyo government that constrict civil liberties and allow impunity in the commission of human rights violations or would he promote and protect civil liberties and human rights?

On Peace

* Would he continue the counterinsurgency and counter-terror program of the Arroyo government or would he work for a just and lasting peace through peace negotiations that would genuinely address the root causes of the armed conflict?

On Economic Policy

* Would he continue with the Arroyo government’s policies of deregulation, privatization, and liberalization that are pushing the country deeper into crisis and backwardness or would he implement an economic program that would develop the country to become self-reliant and would be beneficial to the Filipino people?

* How does he plan to control the profiteering and overpricing schemes of the big oil and pharmaceutical companies?

* How does he plan to control the prices of basic goods and services?

On People’s Welfare

* Would he continue with the Arroyo government’s policies allowing contractualization and depressing wages or would he protect job security and push for legislation providing for living wages?

* Would he work for the creation of jobs locally or pursue the labor export policy?

* Would he continue protecting the interests of landlords and big corporations or would he work for a genuine land reform program?

* Would he allow mining and logging corporations to destroy the environment and rob the indigenous peoples of their ancestral lands or would he work for the protection of the environment, the judicious use of the country’s natural resources for the people’s benefit, and respect for indigenous people’s rights?

* Would he maintain the feudal, patriarchal system that is oppressive to women or work for the removal of all laws, policies and practices that reinforce women’s oppression?

* Would he continue with the policy of privatizing basic services and utilities, which leaves the people vulnerable to the profiteering designs of big corporations, or would he implement a comprehensive social program?

More could be added to the list. The essential point is whether he would work for genuine change that would protect and promote the people’s rights, interests, and welfare or continue protecting the interests of the few rich and powerful families and corporations, local and foreign. (Bulatlat.com)