SENADO 2016, sino nga ba?

Rafael Alunan III

Independent

Born: May 17, 1948; Manila 

 

Twenty years after administering to millions through the government, one might think of retiring and living out a simple life. Former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Rafael Alunan III, however, decided to run for senator in this year’s elections.

 

Alunan filed a Certificate of Candidacy (COC) on Oct. 16, 2015 despite his previous online statement that he will not run for a position.

 

“Matapos panoorin ang kalagayan ng ating bansa sa loob ng 20 years, napag-isip-isip ko na may malaking pagkukulang sa liderato na naging sanhi ng krisis,” he said.

(After watching the country for 20 years, I saw that there is a huge lack of authority that has caused a crisis.)

 

Part of his platforms include internal safety, national security, and national defense. In the previous years, Alunan has showed opposition to the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and China’s claims to the West Philippine Sea.

 

Alunan said the BBL fails to address the issues of people in Mindanao because of its lack of consultations.

 

When he had served as the Chairman of the National Action Committee on Anti-hijacking and Terrorism (NAHCAT) during President Fidel Ramos term from 1992 to 1996, he claimed to have talked with various rebel groups for peace agreements.

 

Dialogues with the Moro International Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), however, have not forwarded peace processes in Ramos’ time. 

 

Still, Alunan calls for more transparency with the creation of the BBL, because failure to consider other groups’ sides can bring about war in the area.
    
The candidate also opposes China’s claims to the West Philippine Sea. Alunan had also previously served as the Secretary of Tourism in late President Corazon Aquino’s administration from 1989 to 1992.

 

To add to his long list of occupations,
    
He publishes opinion pieces on Business World and his Youtube channel “Raffy Alunan Thinking Out Loud.” As of writing, his videos have a total of 685,260 views despite his low subscriber count of 1,695. Alunan has also served as Independent Director of Pepsi Cola Products Phils. Inc. and Sun Life of Canada Phils. Inc. since 2008.

 

The candidate graduated with a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Governance in Harvard University in 1997. He also reached Class 11 in the Command and General Staff College of the Philippine Army. He also finished a double degree in political science and business administration in De La Salle University in 1970.

 

Sources:
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyCrFt2Yg2Q>
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm1xh6MmKa8>
<http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/109543-rafael-alunan-senate-2016-elections>
<https://www.facebook.com/Rafael-M-Alunan-lll-807846819282856/info/?tab=page_info>
<https://twitter.com/titopaeng>
<https://ph.linkedin.com/in/rafael-iii-alunan-98a1173b>