Presidential Candidates

BENIGNO SIMEON “NOYNOY” COJUANGCO AQUINO III

Birth Date: February 8, 1960

Website: www.noynoy.ph

Educational Background:
Ateneo de Manila University,
AB Economics – 1981

Previous Party: Liberal Party

Current Party: Liberal Party
 

TRACK RECORD / POSITIONS HELD IN GOVERNMENT:

Senator - 14th Congress (2007 - Present)

• Senate committee chair: Local Government

• Oversight committee chair: On Autonomous Region in Muslim

Mindanao Organic Act

Representative 2nd District of Tarlac (1998 – 2007)

• Deputy Speaker House of Representatives (November 8,

2004-February 21, 2006)

• 13th Congress

House committee membership: Banks and Financial Intermediar-

ies, Energy, Export Promotion, Public Order and Safety

• 12th Congress

House committee membership: Civil, Political and Human Rights,

Good Government, Public Order and Safety, Inter-Parliamentary
Relations and Diplomacy
             
SELECTED HOUSE BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS

1. Safety and security by regulating the training of the police

force [HB 3616], providing for the codification of criminal
laws [HB 1842], and the creation of a committee to oversee
proper use of intelligence funds by government agencies
[HB 788];

2. Employment concerns like increasing the annual productiv-

ity incentives for private sector workers [HB 4251] and im-
posing stiffer penalties on employers who don’t comply with
prescribed wage rates [HB 4252].

3. Consumer concerns like empowering the Department of

Trade and Industry to effectively enforce consumer laws
[HB 4397]

LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE

Made the procurement of the petroleum, oil and lubricant (POL)

requirements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines transparent
by requiring public bidding.

STAND ON ISSUES:

Reproductive Health Bill:  Noynoy used to issue strong state-

ments in favor of the RH Bill. In media interviews, he stressed that
the Filipino families should have the option to choose of the family
planning method that they prefer based on their own beliefs and
conscience. Noynoy was even in favor of making contraceptives
available in the public hospitals. However, in recent interviews/
forums, Noynoy seems to have softened on his stand. In a public
forum at De La Salle University, Noynoy addressed the issue of
family planning by giving “responsible parenthood” as his policy.
He stands pat on giving couples the option to decide on which
family planning method to use; however he stressed that a well
managed economy will give the population the kind of life that they
want. He further said the bill should not be enacted into a law,
reiterating that it is the government should instead take care of the
economy.
Charter Change:  Noynoy is not convinced that the country needs
charter change, but he said that he is open on it being studied.
Noynoy however stressed that he is not in favor of a constituent
assembly.

Peace in Mindanao: In an interview with Cheche Lazaro, Noynoy

said that his long term plan to address the peace in Mindanao is
by the idea of cross pollination. He said that he will bring some
students in Mindanao to study in Luzon or Visayas. He will do
the same for some students in Luzon and Visayas. His rationale
behind this is that, through this process, students from Mindanao,
Luzon and Visayas will be able to build trust in one another. He
said that the main problem in the peace of Mindanao is the lack of
trust of the people to one. His immediate solution to the issue is to
get really good negotiators from both sides to talk.

Corruption:  Noynoy said the government only needs to enforce

laws that penalize graft and corruption but laments that in reality;
it takes years before graft cases are even investigated. He said
while there should be certainty of punishment for grafters, com-
pensation should be increased for those shown to be working well
in government.

Education: Noynoy has adopted the Omnibus Education Reform

Bill proposed by Mar Roxas in the Senate.  The bill provides provi-
sion for a 12 year basic education curriculum for all private and
public students nationwide.  Noynoy said that, “With a 12-year
cycle, even those who do not have the ambition or interest to go
on to university should have enough basic education to prepare
them for the world of work. At 18 years of age, high school gradu-
ates should have the tools and the emotional and mental maturity
that would make them better prepared for work than 16-year olds
graduating under a 10-year cycle.”

Poverty: Aquino said that there is a need for the state to remind
parents to provide for the needs of their children. He said that he
will empower them to access better and high-paying jobs. He also
said that a non-corrupt government will help empower the citizens
and by addressing corruption, we can effectively utilize the re-
sources to address the problem of poverty.