Younger senatorial bets may have an edge in 2013 polls – analysts

GMA News March 27, 2013 6:38pm

Age doesn't matter...but it just might during election time, according to political analysts.

Younger senatorial bets may have a slight advantage over their more senior rivals since a big majority of voters for the 2013 polls are below 35 years old, Institute for Political and Electoral Reform executive director Ramon Casiple said.

“Isang dahilan iyon kung bakit maraming matatanda ang hindi na natin nakikita sa surveys, kasi bumabata na 'yung mga botante,” Casiple said in a phone interview on Wednesday.

He added that most voters for the upcoming polls already do not subscribe to “traditional politics.”

“Usually, ang hinahanap na nila ay 'yung may reform agenda o kaya 'yung tumatayo para sa pagbabago,” he said.

Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) political science professor Benito Lim agreed that age may be a factor in voters' decisions on which names to write on their ballots on election day.

“Wala pang study na ganyan, but I think magiging small part talaga ang age in the overall selection on who to vote for. Since pare-pareho lang naman ang sinasabing programa ng mga kandidato, maaaring ang iboto na lang ay kung sino ang mas nakaka-relate sa kanila,” Lim said in a separate phone interview.

He added that the “idealism” of younger senatorial hopefuls may have an edge over the “experience” of older ones.

“They [younger candidates] are more adventurous because they are doing this for the first time. They still think they can do everything. Hindi pa nila alam na sa pulitika, kailangan mo ng numbers at ng partido mo para makapagpasa ng batas,” he said.

Lim however noted that the younger candidates--such as Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito and Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara—seem to be “reluctant to be young.”

“Baka kasi isipin ng mga tao masyado pala silang bagito, kaya they are trying to anchor themselves to older ones, such as their fathers or their uncles. Sinasabi nila sa tao na marami na silang alam dahil natuto sa mga kamag-anak nila,” the political science professor said.

A mix of young, old

Under Section 3, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, a Filipino citizen must at least be 35 years old on election day to be able to run for a Senate post.

An analysis of the ages of the 2013 senatorial hopefuls showed that the current crop of candidates for Senate seats include a mix of young and old, with 52 as the average age.

Five candidates, including youngest senatorial hopeful Greco Belgica, are under 40 years old. Twelve senatorial bets are under 50 years old—the biggest age group among senatorial aspirants.

The four most senior senatorial hopefuls, meanwhile, are over 70 years old: Ramon Magsaysay Jr., 74; Ramon Montano, 76; Samson Alcantara, 77; and Ernesto Maceda, 78.

The Liberal Party (LP)-led administration slate has a younger composition compared to its rival, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). The LP lineup has an average age of 49, while UNA's slate has an average age of 55.

LP campaign spokesperson Ben Evardone said the party's younger slate may help them capture more votes in the upcoming elections.

“The demographics shows that majority of the voters are young. Our young candidates can relate to them. They will be the champions of interests and issues of the youth,” Evardone said in a text message.

UNA secretary-general Tobias Tiangco, however, said the ages of their candidates will not put their slate to a disadvantage.

"Actually depende sa message 'yan and how you will deliver it. There is a need for young candidates, but there is also a need for mature candidates," Tiangco said in a separate phone interview.

The latest Pulse Asia survey showed that of the 15 candidates who have a "statistical chance of winning," two are in their 30's; eight in their 40's; three in their 50's; and two in their 60's.

On the other hand, the latest SWS survey showed that of the 15 candidates who have a chance of snagging a Senate seat, two are in their 30's; eight in their 40's; three in their 50's; one in their 60's; and one in their 70's. — BM, GMA News