Conflict or cooperation: What will a Duterte-Robredo or Duterte-Marcos tandem look like?

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — In contrast to Rodrigo Duterte's more than 5 million-vote lead in the partial and unofficial results for the presidency, the vice-presidential race has gone down the wire.

The presumptive winner of the presidential race will lead an administration without his chosen running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

The vice presidential race, has essentially boiled down to two candidates — Nacionalista Party member Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., and Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo of the Liberal Party (LP).

As of Friday afternoon (May 13), Robredo showed a slim lead of more than 200,000 votes over Marcos. The vice presidential race is still too close to call.

Marcos has openly said he wants to head the Department of Labor under a new president while Robredo has expressed her desire to take charge of streamlining all of the government's anti-poverty programs. Both have said they are willing to work with any president elected by the Filipino people.

CNN Philippines takes a look at the possible areas of cooperation, conflict and agreement within a Duterte-Marcos or a Duterte-Robredo administration, based on crucial issues addressed by the candidates during the campaign and their statements.

Death penalty

Duterte – During the second presidential debate on March 20, Duterte gave a "thumbs up" to the restoration of the death penalty. Duterte wants the death penalty to be reintroduced for drug trafficking and other heinous crimes.

"What I would do is to urge Congress to restore the death penalty by hanging," he said during his first press conference since election day.

Marcos – The senator has expressed support for the re-imposition of the death penalty, but only for convicted drug lords because “it is clear that they are destroying the future, our youth.”

Robredo – Robredo opposes the death penalty. She has been quoted saying that no statistics show that crime diminished when the country had the death penalty. She said there have been cases of convicts sentenced to death but later acquitted because of wrong evidence or they were later proven to be innocent.

Labor contractualization

Duterte – Duterte said in the last presidential debate it will only take him a week as president to put an end to contractualization. He said he will tell Congress leaders: “You need to pass this bill immediately. I need it first week of my administration."

Marcos – On Labor Day (May 1), Marcos said he will end contractualization. He said the Labor Department, to which he wants to be appointed as head, has been turning a blind eye to “end of contract” schemes and contractualization. He says he wants to “restore the rights of workers.”

Robredo – Robredo also wants to end contractualization. She said she will push the security of tenure law and impose many penalties on employers that violate it. She said it is not enough to create jobs. These should be regular jobs with sufficient compensation.

Income tax

Duterte — Duterte disagrees with reducing taxes. He said he needs money to raise the salary of state workers and run the country. He told the state-run Philippine News Agency last November that people are complaining about being “taxed to death” only because they don’t see or feel that there are enough public services. He said money also is needed for programs to create jobs, solve crime, end hunger and restore law and order.

Marcos — During the vice presidential debate, Marcos showed a "thumbs up" sign expressing approval to lower income taxes. He earlier said the Philippine tax structure “is simply out-dated that even those in the middle class are now in the bracket of the rich, paying tax for the rich. It’s time we do something to correct the situation.”

Robredo — The Camarines Sur representative also showed a "thumbs up" sign in favor of lowering income taxes during the vice presidential debate. About four months earlier, she told reporters that lowering income tax is a "social justice issue” – the smaller the income, the smaller the tax burden; those who have more should carry a heavier burden.

Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL)

Duterte — The Davao City Mayor has expressed support for the Bangasmoro Basic Law and was disappointed when Congress failed to pass it. However, he is strongly pushing for federalism, believing that “nothing short of federalism would bring peace to Mindanao.”

Marcos — Marcos told CNN Philippines that the BBL bill in its original form, will not ensure lasting peace in Mindanao and claimed that the peace negotiators did not consult “so many stakeholders” in crafting the law. He has sponsored a substitute “Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Law” that he said would make the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) more inclusive and give representation in the BTA to other sectors — like the sultanates, indigenous people, and women, and youth groups.

Robredo — The Camarines Sur lawmaker was one of 50 representatives from the House ad hoc committee on the BBL that approved the proposed legislation with some amendments and was one of 19 representatives who called for passage of the bill to “fulfill the promise of change in Mindanao in the form of a just and lasting peace."

Libingan ng mga Bayani burial for Marcos

Duterte — During the second presidential debate on March 20, the Davao City mayor gave a "thumbs up" when candidates were asked if Marcos should be buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani. "If you are the president, you have to unite the country… For as long that issue hangs, it will remain a divisive factor in our society," Duterte said after the debate. "Someone has got to give … ilibing mo na lang para tapos na. [Just bury him to get it over with.]"

Marcos — In September 2014, the younger Marcos said in a television interview it is his father’s right to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani “because he is a soldier and he served in the military and his record speaks for itself. And he was the longest sitting president in our history. By right, he should be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani."

Robredo — She disagrees with Duterte and Marcos, believing the late president doesn’t deserve to be buried in the cemetery for heroes. “The question now is whether or not the late President Marcos is deserving to be buried there. Was he an exemplary Filipino who gave his life, who sacrificed so much for our country? I don’t think he was,” she was quoted in a newspaper report as saying.

Political dynasties

Duterte — Duterte's father, Vicente, was governor of what was then the single Davao province during the 1960s. His son, Paolo, is the current vice mayor of Davao City and was reelected in the May 9 polls. His daughter, Sara, served as city mayor from 2010 to 2013 and won the 2016 election. In a television interview, Duterte said that the anti-political dynasty notion is "undemocratic." "How can you prevent a person from running?" he said.

Marcos — The senator's grandfather, Mariano Marcos, was a congressman. His mother, Imelda, is the current representative of Ilocos Norte's Second District. His sister, Imee, is the incumbent governor of Ilocos Norte. His late father and namesake ruled the country for 20 years. During the vice presidential debate, Marcos said that political dynasties are "generational" in a political environment like the Philippines. But he said Congress has a mandate from the constitution to pass an anti-dynasty bill.

Robredo — Robredo's late husband, Jesse served as Mayor of Naga City from 1988 to 1998 and 2001 to 2010. Before his death in 2012, he headed the Department of the Interior and Local Government. She is against political dynasties and co-authored the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill (HB 3587). She said there have been good and bad political dynasties, but the real issue is equal opportunity for all who seek public office.

Philippines-China Relations

Duterte — Unlike the current administration's solely multilateral approach of pursuing an end to the country's territorial dispute with China, Duterte is open to engaging Beijing in bilateral talks. “I don’t believe in solving the conflict through an international tribunal. China has said it will not abide by whatever that tribunal’s decision will be. That’s the same case with me, especially if the ruling will be against the Philippines,” he was quoted in a newspaper report. However, if Beijing refuses to honor the tribunal’s decision he will plant a Philippine flag on one of the artificial islands built by Beijing to claim “this is ours.”

Marcos — Marcos said the country must be open to all approaches in order to reach an agreement with China. He said arbitration is a good approach, but ultimately the problems between China and the Philippines won’t be solved until there is an agreement between the two countries, and that can’t be concluded without bilateral negotiations.

Robredo — The Camarines Sur representative supports the Aquino government's approach in filing the case against China as it is in accordance with the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. The approach has garnered the support of several countries including the United States.