This study examines the discourse strategies employed by a senatorial candidate, referred to as Bato, during the 2025 Philippine political debate, titled “Tanong ng Bayan” GMA Senatorial Face-Off 2025 by analyzing modality, pronoun shifts, lexical choices, and thematic framing evident in the candidate’s responses. Using Norman Fairclough’s Three-Dimensional Framework for Critical Discourse Analysis, as cited by Hassan et al. (2019), the research explores how authority, legitimacy, and ideological alignment were constructed and contested through language. Findings indicate a deliberate framing of narratives centered on national sovereignty, legal defense, and political persecution that reflects broader sociopolitical tensions and evolving public sentiments in the Philippine context. The analysis identifies key linguistic features including the strategic use of inclusive and exclusive pronouns, assertive modal verbs, and metaphoric language, all of which positioned the candidate as a protector of national interest and constitutional rule. Results suggest that political discourse operates not merely as a vehicle for information delivery but as an instrument for identity construction, power negotiation, and public influence. Although this study contributes to the growing body of research on political discourse in the Philippines, it is recommended that future research expand the scope by employing alternative discourse analysis frameworks, conducting comparative studies across different political contexts, examining the effects of political language on public opinion, exploring gendered dimensions of political communication, and analyzing multimodal elements such as non-verbal cues.
Kercher E Palaran (Sat,) studied this question.