Norberto Borja Gonzales
Norberto Borja Gonzales was born on April 17, 1947, in Balanga, Bataan. He is an avowed democratic-socialist with a career spanning activism, labor union organizing, and government service. Gonzales co-founded and currently chairs the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP), a party that worked alongside the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) during the struggle against the Marcos dictatorship. After the fall of Marcos, he was appointed by President Corazon Aquino as a negotiator to the MNLF, which resulted in a peace agreement two years later. Gonzales has extensive experience in government service, having served as National Security Adviser, Secretary of National Defense, and Presidential Chief of Staff during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He was briefly detained in 2005 after being cited for contempt during a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing. In 2022, Gonzales ran for president but placed 9th out of 10 candidates in an election won by Ferdinand Marcos Jr. He has filed his candidacy for senator in the 2025 elections as a candidate of PDSP, bringing with him over 20 years of experience as a peace adviser and negotiator.
Education
- Specific details about his formal education are not widely available in public sources
Career Highlights
- Co-founder and current Chairman of the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP)
- Secretary of National Defense under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (July 2007 to August 2007, and November 2009 to June 2010)
- National Security Adviser under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
- Presidential Chief of Staff under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
- Peace negotiator with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under President Corazon Aquino
- Presidential Adviser for Special Concerns at the Office of the President
- Extensive experience in trade union and peasant organizing
- Candidate for President in the 2022 Philippine national elections
Key Platforms
National Security and Defense Mobilization
Advocates for strengthening the Philippines' defense capabilities through a national mobilization strategy that would create a reserve force of 10-20 million Filipinos. According to Gonzales, 'If we call for national mobilization and begin to authorize the increase of our reserve force let say 10 to 20 million, that cannot be compared to China's soldiers, but that will be sufficient to show that we Filipinos may be lacking in modern systems, but we have the determination to offer our lives if necessary to defend every inch of our soil.'
Democratic Socialist Economic Reforms
Promotes a 'social democratic formula' for the economy that considers labor as an asset rather than an expense. Believes that increasing the cost of labor will strengthen people's purchasing power, which will in turn strengthen economic activities and consumption of goods and services. As he explained, 'We should consider labor as an asset, otherwise we won't include it in our earnings. If you are considered an expense, you are an expense.'
Educational Excellence and Standardization
Advocates for a standardized quality education system regardless of socioeconomic status. Proposes scholarships for teachers to enhance the quality of education. In his words, 'The training we give is different, the education we give to the children of the poor and the children of the rich. We must change that. We need a standard education. Let's offer scholarships to our teachers.'
Parliamentary System of Government
Calls for a shift to either a pure parliamentary or a presidential-parliamentary hybrid system of government through constitutional amendments. Believes this would allow better representation for marginalized sectors, including the LGBTQIA+ community, as 'the multi-party system under a parliamentary system allows the participation of even small parties to articulate important policy positions.'
Peace and Security
Leverages his extensive experience as a peace negotiator to advocate for diplomatic solutions to internal conflicts while maintaining a firm stance on issues of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. His approach combines dialogue with preparation for defense when necessary.
Positions on Key Issues
| Issue | Position |
|---|---|
| Economy | Advocates for a 'social democratic formula' that views labor as an asset rather than an expense. Believes that increasing wages and investing in workers strengthens purchasing power, which in turn drives economic growth and consumption. Has stated, 'We should consider labor as an asset, otherwise we won't include it in our earnings,' reflecting his democratic socialist approach to economic policy. |
| Education | Emphasizes the need for 'standard education' that provides equal quality regardless of socioeconomic status. Advocates for scholarships for teachers to improve education quality. Stresses the importance of excellence in education as a pathway to national progress, stating, 'If we want to be a progressive country, to be rich, excellence is very important in everything that we do.' |
| Healthcare | While specific detailed healthcare policy positions are not widely available in public sources, his democratic socialist principles suggest support for accessible and equitable healthcare services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, advocated for treating the pandemic as a national security threat and called for strengthening the pharmaceutical industry to ensure domestic production of medicines and vaccines. |
| Environment | Specific detailed positions on environmental and climate change policy are not widely available in public sources, though his social democratic orientation suggests support for sustainable development and environmental protection measures. |
| Labor | Strong advocate for workers' rights and labor protections, drawing from his extensive background in trade union organizing. Considers labor an integral part of economic growth, not merely an expense. Promotes policies that strengthen labor unions, improve working conditions, and increase wages to boost purchasing power across the economy. |
| Agriculture | Emphasized food security as a priority, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Has vowed to strengthen the Department of Agriculture to address the country's food security issues, recognizing the importance of a robust agricultural sector for national security and public health. |
| Governance | Takes a strong stance against corruption and advocates for transparent, accountable governance. Believes in systemic reform of the political system and has criticized what he calls 'rotten' politics prevalent in the country. Supports a shift to a parliamentary form of government to improve representation and governance. |
| Foreign Policy | Takes a firm stance on asserting Philippine sovereignty, particularly regarding the West Philippine Sea dispute with China. Advocates for national mobilization to prepare Filipinos to defend national territory. Has stated, 'If China loves their country, we love ours also. If China is prepared to defend their nation, we are also prepared to defend our nation.' Believes in showing determination to defend sovereignty as a prerequisite for meaningful diplomatic dialogue. |
| Charter Change | Strongly supports constitutional amendments to shift from the current presidential system to either a pure parliamentary or a presidential-parliamentary hybrid system. Believes this would allow better representation for diverse groups and interests, including marginalized sectors and small political parties that could better articulate policy positions under a multi-party parliamentary system. |
| Lgbtq Rights | Recognizes the need for better representation of the LGBTQIA+ community in politics and policymaking. Advocates for a parliamentary system that would allow the LGBTQIA+ community to form their own political party and directly represent their cause in government rather than relying on politicians, stating that 'the multi-party system under a parliamentary system allows the participation of even small parties to articulate important policy positions.' |
| Drug War | Specific detailed positions on drug war policies are not widely available in public sources. However, as a democratic socialist and former security official, his positions likely balance law enforcement with rehabilitation approaches and human rights considerations. |
| Icc | Specific positions on the ICC investigation are not detailed in available public sources, though his background suggests support for Philippine sovereignty in legal matters while also respecting international human rights standards. |
Sources & Citations
- GMA News Online - 'Filipinos should prepare to defend nation vs. China –Norberto Gonzales', February 21, 2022
- GMA News Online - 'Ex-defense chief Gonzales wants 10 to 20 million Filipinos in reserve force amid sea dispute', January 12, 2022
- GMA News Online - 'Norberto Gonzales vows scholarship for teachers, standard education', February 8, 2022
- GMA News Online - 'Gonzales: Parliamentary system to give LGBTQ better stake in politics', March 18, 2022
- Manila Bulletin - 'Gonzales to introduce 'social democratic formula' in economy if he wins presidency', January 31, 2022
- Wikipedia - 'Norberto Gonzales'
- Wikipedia - 'Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas'
- Philippine Star - 'Ex-DND chief Norberto Gonzales aims for Senate this time', October 7, 2024
- Rappler - 'Former Arroyo defense chief Norberto Gonzales guns for presidency'
- VotePilipinas - 'Gonzales, Norberto' candidate profile
- Politiko - 'Should we trust China?' interview with Norberto Gonzales
- e-Boto - 'Norberto Gonzales' candidate profile
This profile is regularly updated with verified information from reliable sources. Last updated: April 24, 2025