Highlighting significant concerns on the Philippines’s current political system, Norberto Gonzales talked about his platforms and stances on current issues in the third installment of CANDID DATES 2022 on February 14.

Gonzales, the former political adviser of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the former secretary of national defense, is one of the presidential candidates for the 2022 national elections.

According to Gonzales, he recognized the importance of politics in shaping the nation, but he is disturbed by how politics is done in the country.

“Our politics and politicians are the main standing block for our nation to move forward,” Gonzales said.

Gonzalez also mentioned his dream to introduce to the Philippines a form of politics that will increase the love of the country among Filipinos, in which the common good is discussed during elections.

He also pointed out that the kind of politics in the country does not allow the electorate to have more options on who to choose, limiting the presidential choices to only five instead of including all candidates.

“It seems to me that the established political order in the country has already determined who will win in the election before even the campaign starts. What kind of democracy are we having?”

The presidential aspirant also believed that it is the current political system that enables corruption, which is why it needs to be addressed.

“My first move is reforming our political system. During my ten years in office, I have met many, many politicians. I kept wondering, how come [when] we will talk to them individually, they’re the best, they have the best intentions. But when they enter the political system, how come they become corrupt?”

Apart from his desire to change the presidential system into a parliamentary kind of government, Gonzales also shared his stances on specific issues such as the economy, mining, Lumad education, the reviewing of the NTF-ELCAC, and the pandemic response.

Gonzales admitted that he might not be one of the popular choices for the presidency, but he could use his experiences and lessons to do his job.

“I have none, but I have 50 years of experience with our people,” Gonzales replied when asked about his edge from the other candidates.

According to the latest Pulse Asia survey, Gonzales ranks last together with Dr. Jose Montemayor Jr. in the preferred presidential candidate of the Filipinos, receiving “essentially no support from the country’s electorate.”The full interview of Norberto Gonzales can be viewed on Ateneo de Davao University’s Facebook page. The next installment of the CANDID DATES 2022 will be on February 18 with presidential aspirant Ernesto “Ernie” Abella.