Congressional bets grilled in forum

CEBU, Philippines - The Pork Barrel, automated elections and development plans were among the issues discussed by different congressional aspirants of Cebu City during GMA-7’s congressional forum last Thursday at the Marco Polo Plaza.

Among those present were south district congressional aspirants Jonathan Guardo and Lea Remedio Ong; and north district congressional aspirants Lt. Francisco Acedillo, Juan Arrenasa, Mary Ann de los Santos and Atty. Florencio Villarin.

The forum is a project of GMA-7 Central Visayas and the Commission on Elections.

The forum’s debate-like format is entitled “Ang Pangutana” where each candidate will face five rounds of rigid questioning about their platforms and development plans from panels composed of ordinary people and their congressional opponents.

Among issues that were discussed in the forum are the stands of the candidates regarding the Priority Development fund or commonly known as the Pork Barrel. Others issues were about the candidates’ stands on automated elections, clean elections, personality bickering versus issue based propaganda, and corruption.

Each candidate was given two minutes to answer a certain question.

The first round of questions came from a panel consisting of members of different sectors of society. 

The second round came from ordinary people who had the privilege of asking their candidates about their concerns. In the third round the same question was given to all the candidates.

In the fourth round the candidate was questioned by a rival candidate, while in the fifth round a surprise guest asked the last round of questions.

“Ang Pangutana” will be aired this morning and will be hosted by broadcaster Bobby Nalzaro.   — May April M. Jimenea, UP intern/BRP (THE FREEMAN)