(Third of seven parts) In the May 9 elections, Filipino voters will choose 12 among 64 candidates for the Senate for a term of six years. The primary job of a senator is to craft pieces of legislation to address policy gaps, improve existing laws through amendments, scrutinize the national government’s proposed annual budget, exercise oversight functions, among other duties.
In this seven-part series, VERA Files Fact Check dug up relevant information about select senatorial hopefuls to help the electorate in making the choice.
From the Commission on Elections’ official list of 64 senatorial candidates, we narrowed it down to 31 based on the following criteria:
- Reelectionists;
- Former government officials;
- Members of, or those backed by major political parties or top presidential and vice presidential slates; and
- Candidates that have made it at least once in the top 20 of pre-election surveys conducted by independent pollsters Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations.
The 31 candidates were then grouped based on their Senate experience – those with and those without – then arranged alphabetically.
Each profile contains the candidate’s legislative agenda, government experience or field of expertise, issues and controversies faced, relatives in government and other interesting facts. Also included are the pertinent fact checks of, or related to the candidate, done by VERA Files Fact Check and its media and academic partners in the Tsek.ph collaboration.
Part 3 of the series covers three stalwart supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte – actor Robin Padilla, former Palace spokesperson Salvador Panelo and former Mindanao Development Authority chairperson and former Agriculture secretary Manny Piñol – and SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta.
Know more about your senatorial bets:
Rodante Marcoleta WITHDRAWN (April 27)
Robinhood “Robin” Padilla
Salvador Panelo
Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol
Check out other senatorial bets: Part 1, Part 2, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, and Part 7
Editor’s note: This series was produced with the help of two students of the University of the Philippines Baguio as part of their internship at VERA Files.
Have you seen any dubious claims, photos, memes, or online posts that you want us to verify? Fill out this reader request form.
Sources
Marcoleta
- Rodante Marcoleta Official Facebook Page, Get to Know Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, July 1, 2020
- House of Representatives official website, Hon. Marcoleta, Rodante D.
- Senate of the Philippines official website, RA 11291
- Senate of the Philippines official website, RA 10969
- Official Gazette, RA 10963
- Manila Bulletin Online, Bongbong Marcos – Sara Duterte proclamation rally at Philippine Arena in Bulacan, Feb. 8, 2022
- SMNI News, Marcoleta’s priority legislation on LIVE: SMNI Senatorial Debate | Round1, March 2, 2022
- The Sunday Times, Reintroducing Rodante Marcoleta, Feb. 20, 2022
- Inquirer.net, Marcoleta files candidacy for senator under PDP-Laban, Oct. 8, 2021
- Esquire Mag PH, Who Is Rodante Marcoleta?, July 10, 2020
- Inquirer.net, Marcoleta defends pol ads on ABS-CBN, Nov. 29, 2021
- Philstar.com, Marcoleta slammed for placing political ads on ABS-CBN after pushing for network’s shutdown, Nov. 23, 2021
- Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN ‘executioner’ Marcoleta defends placement of political ad at Kapamilya network, Nov. 27, 2021
- Rappler, Who is Rodante Marcoleta, the man behind the motion for CHR’s P1,000-budget?, Sept. 13, 2017
- Philstar.com, Who moved to give the CHR a budget of P1,000?, Sept. 13, 2017
- Inquirer.net, House gives Commission on Human Rights P1,000 budget for 2018, Sept. 12, 2017
- Inquirer.net, CHR budget restored: ‘People power in age of social media’, Sept. 21, 2017
- Rappler, CHR thanks House for ‘open minds, hearts’ after budget restored, Sept. 20, 2017
- VERA Files, VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Marcoleta, Defensor insist on unproven claim that Ivermectin protects and treats COVID-19, Aug. 16, 2021
- Philstar.com, Duterte’s PDP-Laban endorses Sara, 7 senatorial bets, March 6, 2022
- The Manila Times, UniTeam bares 10 Senate bets, Jan.21, 2022
- Manila Bulletin, Marcoleta vows Senate probe on ABS-CBN, sister company if he wins, Jan. 10, 2022
- ABS-CBN News, Marcoleta vows probe on ABS-CBN subsidiary Big Dipper should he win Senate seat, Jan. 10, 2022
- House of Representatives official website, Roster of Philippine Legislators from 1907 to 2019
Padilla
- Robin Padilla Official Facebook Page
- Robin Padilla Official Website, Plataporma
- Philstar.com, Robin the educator, April 17, 2009
- The Philippine Star, ‘Robin Padilla’s brother should serve prison term’, Oct. 28, 2015
- Business Mirror, Robin Padilla’s brother asks SC to compel Comelec to declare him duly elected Camarines Norte vice governor, March 5, 2021
- Commission on Election, Certified List of Candidates Region V – Camarines Norte
- Interaksyon, ‘Nature of men to cheat?’ Robin Padilla slammed for remarks on Kylie, Aljur split, July 9, 2021
- Rappler, Robin Padilla issues statement on alleged Comelec violation, May 10, 2016
- GMA Entertainment, Robin Padilla talks about reason of his imprisonment; tells son Ali to be proud of being a Padilla, March 17, 2017
- Philstar.com, Robin, 86 others eyed for executive clemency, Aug. 28, 2016
- Inquirer.net, Robin Padilla gets absolute pardon from Duterte, Nov. 15, 2016
- Bilang Pilipino 2022, Robinhood Ferdinand “Robin” Cariño Padilla
- Philippine News Agency, Robin Padilla to join Army as reservist, July 8, 2019
- Philippine Army, Robin Padilla to head Army MSAB Strategic Communication Committee, July 30, 2020
- ABS-CBN News, Robin Padilla heads communications panel of PH Army’s multi-sector advisors, Aug. 20, 2020
- Philippine News Agency, Robin Padilla, 6 other reservists seeking elective posts relieved, Dec. 7, 2021
- Smart, Talk ‘N Text Ka-Tropa Robin Padilla inspires Pinoy youth to go back to school, July 4, 2014
- Manila Bulletin, Want to know Senate hopeful Robin Padilla’s platform? Read on, Feb. 21, 2022
- Business Mirror, Sara Duterte endorses Robin Padilla for Senator, Feb. 16, 2022
- Rappler, Sara Duterte endorses 7-man Senate slate of ‘friends’, Feb. 9, 2022
- Rappler, Duterte endorses 8 other Senate bets not in PDP-Laban list, April 1, 2022
- Manila Bulletin Online, Robin Padilla files COC for senator in 2022 polls, Oct. 8, 2021
- The Washington Post, Personality is Key as Filipinos Vote, May 9, 1995
- AsiaWeek.com, And the losers are… Nov. 30, 2000
- Bikol Initiative, Camarines Norte Politics
- Manila Bulletin, Want to know Senate hopeful Robin Padilla’s platform, Feb. 21, 2022
- ANC 24/7, Headstart: PH Senatorial candidate Robin Padilla, Feb. 3, 2022
- Philstar.com, The key to Robin Padilla’s heart, June 18, 2004
- Manila Bulletin, Celebrities and conversions: The way I pray, Nov. 23, 2013
- ABS-CBN News, Liezel: Marriage to Robin not yet annulled, Sept. 24, 2010
- Manila Bulletin, 5 Things We Love About Robin Padilla, Nov. 10, 2012
- Philstar.com, Robin Padilla: Take 3, Oct. 8, 2006
- PEP.ph, Liezl Sicangco on daughter Kylie Padilla’s interview with dad Robin Padilla: “Natawa ako at naiyak.”, Nov. 28, 2021
Panelo
- Salvador Panelo Official Facebook Page, Education, Work Experience and Advocacies
- Salvador Panelo Official Facebook Page, Sino si Sal Panelo? Album
- Salvador Panelo Official Facebook Page, Legislative Agenda
- CNN Philippines, The Filipino Votes: Senatorial Forum, March 6, 2022
- Inquirer.net, Panelo to file COC for senator, bats for free education, medicines, perks for barangay workers, Oct. 8, 2021
- Rappler, FALSE: ‘Ouster plot’ against President Duterte ‘bared’, April 24, 2019
- Inquirer.net, Alejano dares Duterte, Panelo: Resign over ‘irresponsible Oust Duterte matrix’, May 3, 2019
- Philippine News Agency, Palace bares ‘Oust-Duterte’ matrix, April 22, 2019
- Rappler, LOOK: Panelo endorsed Sanchez’s letter for executive clemency, Sept. 3, 2019
- Inquirer.net, Parole board chief: Panelo ‘referred’ Sanchez pardon bid to me, Sept. 4, 2019
- Philstar.com, Salvador Panelo referred Antonio Sanchez clemency bid to board, April 4, 2019
- ABS-CBN News, Panelo denies hand in convicted rapist-murderer’s looming release, Aug. 21, 2019
- CNN Philippines, Panelo denies hand in looming release of ex-mayor convicted of students’ murder, rape, Aug. 21, 2019
- Inquirer.net, Panelo denies hand in early release of former mayor in rape-slay case, Aug. 21, 2019
- Rappler, Duterte’s spokesman Salvador Panelo and his high-profile cases, May 18, 2016.
- ABS-CBN News, Salvador Panelo: Controversies, high-profile cases, May 24, 2016
- BBC News, Manila transport crisis: Commuters outraged by ‘leave earlier’ advice, Oct. 10, 2019
- Inquirer.net, Panelo: ‘Wake up early’ comment ‘not insensitive’, Oct. 11, 2019
- Interaksyon, Why Panelo’s suggestion to ‘leave early’ sounds insensitive to commuters, October 10, 2019
- CNN Philippines, Panelo floats COVID-19 ‘invasion’ as basis to declare martial law, May 4, 2020
- Inquirer.net, COVID-19 an ‘invasion,’ may be ground for declaring martial law — Panelo, May 4, 2020
- Philstar.com, Despite Panelo’s claims, COVID-19 not the ‘invasion’ to justify martial law, May 4, 2020
- Rappler, Panelo: Duterte ‘never bastos,’ you women should know that, June 16, 2019
- ABS-CBN News, Panelo defends Duterte amid Swedish envoy’s criticism of rape jokes, July 10, 2019
- Rappler, Panelo: Duterte’s kiss with OFW like kissing grandchild, baby, June 6, 2018
- VERA Files, VERA FILES FACT CHECK YEARENDER: Explaining the president’s gaffes in 2018, Dec. 21, 2018
- Inquirer.net, The unfortunate Salvador Panelo, Aug. 23, 2016
- ABS-CBN News, The Duterte-Marcos connection, Sept. 30, 2019
- Philstar.com, Honesty an election issue? Panelo evades question, invokes right against self-incrimination, March 7, 2019
Piñol
- Manny Piñol’s Official Website, Curriculum Vitae
- Manny Piñol’s Official Website, Campaign Materials
- Board Member Doc Krista Piñol-Solis Official Facebook Page, n.d.
- Rappler, Piñol’s brother, daughter win posts in Cotabato province, May 17, 2019
- Vice Mayor’s Office of M’lang Official Facebook Page, n.d.
- Joselito F. Piñol’s Official Facebook Post, June 20, 2016
- Rappler, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol resigns, Jun. 27, 2019
- Inquirer.net, DA chief Piñol offers to resign; says he is open to lead MinDA, June 27, 2019
- CNN Philippines, Piñol submits courtesy resignation to Duterte – Bong Go, June 27, 2019
- CNN Philippines, Piñol denies pressuring Filipino fishermen to revise ramming account, June 20, 2019
- Inquirer.net, De Lima criticizes gov’t treatment of Filipino fishermen, June 20, 2019
- Rappler, PH boat captain changes tune after meeting with Piñol, June 19, 2019
- Philstar.com, Agriculture chief submits to lifestyle check by Office of the President, Dec. 7, 2018
- Philstar.com, PACC clears Piñol in lifestyle probe, June 13, 2019
- Inquirer.net, PACC clears Piñol of corruption, June 12, 2019
- UNTV, PACC clears Agriculture Secretary Piñol from corruption allegations, June 13, 2019
- Philstar.com, Piñol accepts challenge, eats bukbok rice, Sept. 1, 2018
- Rappler, Challenge accepted: Piñol eats bukbok rice, galunggong, Sep. 1, 2018
- Yahoo News, UNTV EXCLUSIVE: Sec. Piñol eats weevil-infested rice to allay public fears, Aug. 31, 2018
- Kodao Productions, NUJP to Piñol: Filing civil complaint vs Baguio journo in Cotabato harassment, Oct. 2, 2017
- GMA News Online, Piñol sues newsman over ‘libelous’ FB post, Sept. 28, 2017
- The Manila Times, Piñol to sue Baguio newsman for libel, Sept. 26, 2017
- Politiko, Manny Piñol files cyber libel raps vs reporter over wealth report, Sept. 28, 2017
- Rappler, Mix of old and new names in Lacson Senate slate of 15, Oct. 15, 2021
- Rappler, WATCH: Why Manny Piñol is running with Lacson, Sotto, Oct. 8, 2021
- Philstar.com, Zubiri dropped from Lacson-Sotto Senate slate after endorsing Marcos, April 4, 2022
(Guided by the code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network at Poynter, VERA Files tracks the false claims, flip-flops, misleading statements of public officials and figures, and debunks them with factual evidence. Find out more about this initiative and our methodology.)