Ex-GMA reporter Jiggy Manicad begins Senate bid

Former GMA television reporter Rodrigo "Jiggy" Manicad filed on Wednesday his certificate of candidacy for the 2019 Senate race.

Manicad was accompanied by his wife, Marnie.

Former GMA tv reporter Jiggy Manicad files candidacy for 2019 Senate race. He is with his wife, Marnie. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/gSCEoEokJm

— Llanesca T. Panti (@llanescajourno) October 17, 2018

"Maaaring bago po ako sa pulitika pero 'di po ako bago sa mga isyu ng lipunan: gutom, kahirapan, katiwalian," said Manicad, who will run under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago party.

Manicad has worked for the GMA Network for the past 23 years before he decided to run for public office.

To help OFWs

Manicad vowed to provide genuine assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) once he succeeds in his Senate bid in the 2019 midterm elections.

An independent candidate, Manicad shared that his experiences as a reporter helped him in understanding the needs of Filipinos working abroad.

Former GMA senior news reporter Jiggy Manicad on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, formalizes his Senate bid in the 2019 elections by filing his certificate of candidacy at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila. Accompanied by his wife Marny, Manicad will run under Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte's Hugpong ng Pagbabago party. Danny Pata

"Sa experience ko bilang war correspondent, nakita ko 'yung mga sitwasyon ng Pilipino sa Middle East specifically mga giyera sa Lebanon," Manicad told reporters.

"May mga Pilipino kapag 'di mo naayudahan pagpasok pa lang ng embahada, walang pumapansin sa kanila eh. So ako nararanasan ko 'yun. Pa'no kung 'di ako nag-cover? 'Di ko sila nakita. In that sense 'yung totoong pagkalinga ang ipu-push natin, magkaroon ng talagang malaking share sa taxes from remittances 'yung OFW," he added.

The former journalist also said he was able to document human trafficking and  maltreatment against OFWs.

"Ako mismo nadokumento ko kung pa'no i-transport 'yung mga Pilipino sa likod ng truck sa Riyadh papuntang Jeddah. Dito ko ia-apply 'yung karanasan ko bilang journalist," Manicad said.

Aside from addressing concerns of OFWs, Manicad said he would also look into the rising prices of commodities as it continues to burden Filipinos.

"Araw-araw nababalitaan natin na tumataas 'yung presyo ng pagkain kaya maraming nahihirapan dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng gasolina. Gusto ko sanang i-revisit 'yung oil deregulation law kung nababagay ba siya sa panahon ngayon," Manicad said.

"Isulong natin na magkaroon ng buffer fund para 'di tayo natsutsubibo sa pagtaas at pagbaba ng presyo ng bilihin. Sana magkaroon din ng transparency sa acquisition ng oil products. Dapat i-publicize ng mga oil companies nang sa gano'n 'di nabubulaga 'yung mga Pilipino," he added.

Love of country

Manicad will also push for nationalism among the public. He wants to strengthen local films that will spark love of country among the public.

"Ako ang gusto ko simple lang: 'Wag tuwing Monday lang 'yung flag ceremony. Every day sana kantahin natin 'yung Lupang Hinirang," Manicad said.

"'Yung mga film producers, scriptwriters, 'wag ng i-tax 'yung mga 'yan... 'Yung mga Heneral Luna, Goyo 'yan ang mga kailangan nating pelikula. Sana 'wag ng i-tax," he added.

At least two broadcast journalists have won a Senate seat in the last two decades—Noli de Castro and Loren Legarda. —KG, GMA News