Presidential aspirants meet at Focap forum

Taking a break from their campaign sorties, seven presidential candidates attended on Monday a forum organized by the Foreign Correspondent Association of the Philippines (Focap), answering questions that ranged from imposition of taxes, the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant to the Visiting Forces Agreement. Present were Senators Benigno Aquino III, Richard Gordon, Jamby Madrigal, religious leader Eddie Villanueva, environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, Olongapo City Councilor John Carlos delos Reyes, and administration bet Gilberto Teodoro Jr. President Joseph Estrada and Senator Manuel Villar Jr., who was still in Hong Kong, were both absent. The issues discussed were political dynasties, taxes, education, the Visiting Forces Agreement between the US and the Philippines, contraception, the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, and the reimposition of the death penalty. World Bank country director Bert Hoffman gave the opening address, where he discussed the Philippine economy. The forum was ongoing, as of posting time. - Sophia Dedace/RSJ, GMANews.TV