Wilson Amad says interreligious dialogue to help keep peace in Mindanao

Independent senatorial candidate Wilson Amad discussed his proposals on how to keep the peace between religious communities in Mindanao.

Amad stated that he always pushes for interreligious dialogue.

“Walang separate peace for Muslims. Walang separate peace for the Lumad. Walang separate peace for Christians. Both groups should work together para sa katahimikan,” he said in an interview with Emmanuel Baylosis on KananPH on Saturday.

(There is no separate peace for Muslims. There is no separate peace for the Lumad. There is no separate peace for Christians. Both groups should work together for peace.)

Amad said interreligious dialogue means religious groups helping each other and adapting collective stances against injustice.

“In that way, maachieve natin ang totoong katahimikan dito sa Mindanao (In that way, we can achieve true peace here in Mindanao,) where everybody is respected, kasi diversity is also the beauty of God’s people. We should find what are the unifying aspects in the humanity of both the Lumad, the Muslim, and the Christians in Mindanao,” he said.

Former Senator Francis Pangilinan, in a statement, said he supports moves in the House of Representatives to combat fake news.

“Mahalaga ang pagdinig na ito upang labanan ang disimpormasyon—hindi lang tuwing halalan kundi sa araw-araw nating talakayan,” he said.

(This hearing is important in our fight against disinformation—not just during elections, but for everyday discussions.)

He said that he previously pushed for stiff penalties for spreading fake news on social media platforms during his tenure as a senator in 2022.

“Dapat managot ang social media platforms at advertisers—walang puwang ang kasinungalingan sa demokrasya,” he added.

(Social media platforms and advertisers must be held accountable—lies have no place in democracy.)

Bunyog Partylist senatorial bet David D’Angelo took to social media to claim that removing tax on oil will not bring down electricity prices.

“Kapag inalis mo ang buwis na kabuuan sa petrolyo, ang makikinabang dyan ay mga oil companies at ang fossil fuel industry na nagpapalala sa climate change at sumisira sa kalikasan,” D’Angelo stated.

(If you remove the entire tax on petroleum, the only ones who will benefit from it are the oil companies and fossil fuel industry that are worsening climate change and destroying nature.)

Among his proposed solutions are the removal of the Value-Added Tax (VAT) for residential consumers, the removal of system loss penalties for residential consumers, reforms within electric cooperatives, and EPIRA reforms.

“Commercial users can pay for the electricity as is, since may kita naman sila. Ang unang dapat bigyan ng relief ay mga residential consumers… (Commercial users can pay for the electricity as is, since they have income. The first ones who should be provided with relief are the residential consumers…) Taxes are needed by the government, so let's not remove it totally; just remove the burden from the sector that is burdened by the tax. Hindi natin dapat alisin ang tax sa langis o petrolyo kundi sa bill sa kuryente (We should not remove tax from oil or petroleum, but from the electricity bills),” he added.

He also said that tax should either be removed or suspended for operators of public utility vehicles.

Ariel Querubin joined a farmers’ rally on Saturday and called for a crackdown on rice smugglers and hoarders.

He stated that the government’s rice importation policies were forcing farmers to lower their prices to disadvantageous amounts as low as P14 per kilo for locally grown palay.

“Nag-iimport tayo ng bigas. Tapos mas mura nilang binebenta kaysa dun sa nasaka natin, yung binebenta natin. Kawawa talaga yung mga lokal nating magsasaka kasi binabarat sila,” he said.

(We are importing rice. Then it will be sold cheaper than what is harvested and sold in the country. Our local farmers are pitiful because they are being lowballed.)

Querubin said that the government should be mandated to prioritize the purchase of local products instead of imported produce.

“Ipupush din natin na lahat ng agencies ng gobyerno na unahin muna na bilhin yung mga produkto ng ating magsasaka kaysa naman yung imported,” he said.

(We will push all agencies of the government to buy the products of our farmers instead of the imported ones.)

“Ang daming mga imbestigasyon na nangyayari sa Senado, sa Kongreso. Pero mayroon na ba tayong napakulong na smugglers, mga hoarders na yan? ... Hanggang ngayon—kapag may nabangga na sila na malaking pangalan ay naduduwag naman na sila. Kaya ang kailangan natin ay isang matapang na senador,” he added.

(So many investigations have happened at the Senate and Congress. But have we detained any smugglers or hoarders? Up until now, they get scared when they go against influential people. That’s why we need a brave senator.)

Partido Pilipino sa Pagbabago candidate Allen Capuyan spoke before the Alpha Kappa Rho National Council to discuss his platforms.

“Sa darating na halalan, mahalagang ipaglaban natin ang adyenda ng mamamayan, kapayapaan, kaunlaran, at mas matatag na komunidad. Isang pribilehiyo na makasama ang Akrho, isang lehitimong samahan na may malalim na kontribusyon sa peace and order, community development, at nation-building,” he said.

(In the coming elections, it is important that we fight for our agenda for the public, peace, development, and a stronger community. It is a privilege to be joined by Akrho, a legitimate group that has deep contributions to peace and order, community development, and nation-building.)

Ahkro, established in the Philippines in 1973, is a fraternity that encourages “advancement of a just and humane society, always seeking truth, enjoyment of peace, harmony, and goodwill with other fraternities.” —VBL, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.