Guanzon eyes Senate bid, pushes tax, health reforms

CEBU, Philippines — Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Rowena Guanzon is tying her possible 2028 Senate bid to the endorsement of Vice President Sara Duterte, while positioning tax and health care reforms as key priorities of her proposed legislative agenda.

Guanzon said she remains committed to seeking a Senate seat but would run as an independent candidate but remains hopeful that Duterte includes her in her senatorial slate.

“I am already committed. But I will run as an independent candidate. Wala naman akong partido,” Guanzon said in a presscon yesterday in Cebu City.

Guanzon previously accepted the endorsement of the Cebu Alliance for Duterte 2028, which identified her as a potential senatorial candidate. She said her candidacy would also seek to restore Visayan representation in the Senate.

Among Guanzon’s main proposed reforms is a review of the country’s tax system, particularly the 12% value-added tax (VAT).

She proposed lowering the VAT rate, citing Vietnam’s lower VAT as an example, and called for reduced or zero VAT on medicines, particularly for vulnerable sectors.

According to Guanzon, taxes should not further burden Filipinos who are already struggling with high costs of medical treatment and other basic necessities.

She also proposed expanding benefits for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), including a review of compulsory PhilHealth contributions for OFWs who already have health insurance coverage through their employers abroad.

Guanzon also placed PhilHealth reform among her major legislative priorities, saying the government should ensure that members receive more meaningful health benefits.

She criticized what she described as insufficient coverage for poor patients and persons with disabilities.

She cited the high cost of specialized wheelchairs for children with disabilities and questioned why such essential equipment is not sufficiently covered by PhilHealth.

Guanzon said PhilHealth should focus primarily on its role as a health insurance institution and prioritize better benefits for its members.

Guanzon said she would not campaign on promises of bringing government funds or projects to specific constituents, maintaining her opposition to the pork barrel system.

She said senators should concentrate on passing laws that benefit Filipinos, particularly those in the Visayas and Mindanao.

She also called for greater infrastructure investments in the regions to attract businesses and create jobs, while identifying corruption, unemployment, and underemployment as major national concerns.

“Corruption is the number one enemy of the people,” she said.

Guanzon also expressed support for an outright ban on vape products, citing health concerns.

She said harmful products should instead be heavily taxed if they remain available.

Guanzon also defended Vice President Duterte amid her impeachment proceedings, arguing that Commission on Audit disallowances cited in the case do not automatically establish criminal liability for graft.

She described the impeachment proceedings as politically motivated and said they distract from more pressing concerns, including corruption, unemployment, healthcare, and infrastructure. (CEBU NEWS)