Election Profile

Personal Information

• Age and date of birth: 76 (March 14, 1948)
• Party: Reform PH Party
• Highest Educational Attainment: Master’s in Business Management, Asian Institute of Management (1981)
• Highest Government Position Held: Senator

Summary

Stance on Key Issues

On Poverty, Controlling Inflation, and Jobs

• Argues that government aid (ayuda) should be audited and distributed by government agencies, not credited to lawmakers whose role is legislation.
• Advocates for better wage regulation and a more accurate cost-of-living assessment across provinces.
• Emphasizes the need for accurate data on poverty thresholds for families to afford food, clothing, shelter, education, and tuition.
• Supports the end of contractualization and urges labor groups to organize better.

On Fighting Graft and Corruption

• Opposes a political dynasty ban, arguing that some political families serve well, but is against dynasties dominating local politics.
• Supports punishment for turncoat politicians who switch parties for convenience.
• Advocates for public officials' statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) to be made public.
• His Reform PH Party supports a national anti-corruption task force and a public accountability portal to report corruption.

On the West Philippine Sea

• Believes that “the Philippines doesn’t have an army, but the Philippines is an army”, meaning the country should prepare for threats.
• Supports amending Commonwealth Act #1 (National Defense Act) to modernize conscription policies, expand training, and increase the defense budget.

On The Drug War

• Opposes tokhang-style drug war.
• Against the death penalty for heinous crimes, including drug trafficking, stating “people will still kill each other, even if killing has been outlawed since the time of Jesus Christ”.

On Disaster Preparedness

• His Reform PH Party supports early warning systems and disaster management plans.
• Wants to strengthen the Office of Civil Defense and the AFP for disaster relief.

Government Experience / Field of Expertise

• Secretary, Department of Information and Communications Technology (2019 - 2021)
  
  
• Senator (1995 - 2004; 2017 - 2019)
  
  
  • Authored:
    • Clean Air Act (RA 8749)
    • Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003)
  • Co-authored:
    • Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (RA 10121)
  • Committee Chairman:
    • Agrarian Reform, Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Public Information and Mass Media
  • Assistant Majority Leader, Commission of Appointments (2018 - 2019)
• Commandant - Special Operations School, Philippine Army Training Command, Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija (1986 - 1987)
  
  
• Chief of Security - Ministry of National Defense (1981 - 1987)
  
  
• Aide-de-Camp to Juan Ponce Enrile, Secretary of National Defense (1974 - 1986)
  
  

Issues and Controversies

• DICT Confidential Fund Scandal (2020)
  
  
  • Under Honasan’s leadership, the DICT spent ₱300 million in confidential funds for surveillance.
  • The COA and former DICT Undersecretary Eliseo Rio Jr. flagged fund disbursement irregularities.
• Graft Charges (2017)
  
  
  • Charged with two counts of graft for alleged misuse of a ₱30-million PDAF (2012).
  • Cleared of both charges in 2021.
• EDSA Revolution & RAM
  
  
  • As Chief Security Officer of Juan Ponce Enrile, Honasan led the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), which withdrew support from Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1986.
  • RAM, composed mostly of junior military officers, attempted to overthrow Marcos, leading to the EDSA Revolution that installed Cory Aquino as president.
• Coup Attempts Against Aquino (1987 - 1989)
  
  
  • Led two of the bloodiest coup attempts against Cory Aquino.
  • Arrested in December 1987 for a failed August coup, where Benigno Aquino III was injured and three security men were killed.
  • Escaped from a prison ship in April 1988 with 13 guards.
  • Led another coup attempt in December 1989.
  • Granted amnesty by Fidel Ramos in 1992.
• Oakwood Mutiny (2003)
  
  
  • Charged with rebellion for alleged involvement in the Oakwood Mutiny against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
  • Charges dismissed in 2007.
• 2006 Arrest
  
  
  • Arrested after a nine-month manhunt for organizing a botched coup against Arroyo.

Family Members in Government

• None