Forum organizers: No bias for one presidential hopeful

CEBU, Philippines - Organizers of the presidential forum that was held in Cebu recently assured that there was no preferential treatment for one candidate after reports came out that he won in the mock election since more tickets were given to his supporters.

In a joint statement, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Samuel Chioson, Cebu Business Club President Gordon Joseph and Mandaue Chamber of Commerce President Eric Mendoza said that allegations on the organizers being bias were “inaccurate and unfair.”

The three major business organizations were the organizers of the presidential forum last January 22 at the Cebu International Convention Center which was participated by six aspirants —Gilberto Teodoro, Benigno Aquino III, Joseph Estrada, Eddie Villanueva, Manny Villar and Richard Gordon.

 According to the group’s statement, they were aware of some reports that came out days after the forum which alleged that pro-Teodoro supporters were given access in the plenary hall and allowed to vote to ensure that the administration bet would win the mock election, which was part of the activities for the event.

“The no ticket, no entry policy was strictly enforced and the ingress points were closely monitored by Senior Directors of the organizing Business Organizations.”

The three leaders explained that the total 2,000 tickets were distributed almost equally to Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna, Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, to the Lapu-Lapu City Mayor’s office, Antique Governor Sally Perez and to Presidential Assistant Felix Guanzon.

Five tickets each were also given to the Department of Education, the National Economic Development Authority and to the staff of Senator Mar Roxas. 

In their joint statement, the business chambers also explained that the presidential aspirants were given 30 tickets each for their local supporters while 42 tickets were provided and taken up by the Mactan Chamber of Commerce and the friends and family of Lapu-Lapu City Mayoralty Candidate Efrain Pelaez.

“All in all, the organizers gave out 1,623 tickets to the Cebu-based Business Chambers and Clubs and business organizations who in turn distributed tickets to their respective members.”

They said that some tickets were also given to the Cebu Bankers Club, Philippine Retailers Association, Rotary Club of Cebu, Phil-Export, Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry, FINEX, as well as to the Civil Society, Students, and to members of the academe.

CCCI, CBC, and MCCI also clarified that the mock election was managed by the Ateneo Graduate School of Business for those who had tickets inside the hall which was used as ballots.

They said that a total of 956 out of approximately 2,000 attendees cast their votes.

The organizers explained that each presidentiable was given 250 seats each for their respective supporters.

Mendoza, in a separate interview over radio station dyLA, said there was no truth to the insinuations that Teodoro was given preference because he was supported by Garcia, who has control over the CICC.

Mendoza clarified that while it is true that the CICC is owned by the Province of Cebu, but Garcia did not have a hand on who will be given access to the venue.

He said that they rented the venue and they had the full control of who will be allowed inside.

Mendoza stressed that there was no “hakot crowd” as the report insinuated. He said that most of the people inside the plenary hall were businessmen.

In fact, several supporters of Teodoro were informed through their Facebook group that the Cebu leaders failed to secure tickets for them to make it to the venue.

In his message, Andrew Philip Weigel of Green Team Cebu (Gibo 2010) said, “unfortunately the organizers have limited the attendance… I still do not have tickets for a big contingent of Green Team Cebu member.” — AJ de la Torre and Fred P. Languido/NLQ    (FREEMAN NEWS)