"It’s the media, the civic organizations and the Church that should organize the debate so that (the candidates) cannot decline," Roco said in an interview while barnstorming here yesterday.
"If we want to see what kind of government a candidate will have, it should be seen right in the campaign," the former senator and education secretary said.
Roco, standard-bearer of the Alyansa ng Pag-asa, has challenged his rivals to a televised debate to help voters make an informed choice in the presidential race.
In a related development, Roco was unperturbed by the warning of Council on Philippine Affairs (COPA) secretary- general Pastor "Boy" Saycon that the May 10 elections might not push through if violence erupts over the disqualification case against Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr.
"Boy’s comment is always on the fringe," Roco said. "He is a kibitzer, he is an unaccountable kibitzer. Let’s not mind him."
Roco said giving attention to Saycon’s statements would only create the impression that the Philippines is "unstable," which would not be good for the country.
During a forum with students and teachers at the Tarlac State University, Alyansa ng Pag-asa senatorial bet Jay Sonza described as "mere news readers" vice presidential candidates Loren Legarda of KNP and Noli de Castro of Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (K-4).
Sonza said he knew the capabilities of Legarda and De Castro because they used to work under him when he was executive producer, supervising producer and news director at broadcast giant ABS-CBN from 1986 to 1996.
"Noli is a good material, he is charming," he said. "For television and for radio, he is superb. He is good at the rating game but this (election) is not a rating game. It’s serious business."
Sonza said Legarda is an "overrated television host" who does not write her scripts.
"You ask Ana Marie Datu, Tess Ramirez," he said. "They are the ones that write her scripts. Never did Loren write a single script."
Sonza also assailed Legarda for "shopping" from one political party to the other. "I would rather call her actuation as political masturbation," he said.
However, Sonza said he holds no grudge against Legarda. "I love her as a friend, but governance is a serious business," he said. "This is beyond friendship. It’s about people."
Sonza said among the vice-presidential candidates, Roco’s running mate, Herminio Aquino is the most experienced and qualified for the post.
Residents of Tarlac City warmly welcomed Roco’s party and dropped whatever they were doing in their homes and at work to wave the "I Love You" hand-sign.
Many shouted "Roco-Aquino," while others reached out for the hands of the candidates.
The Alyansa ng Pag-asa was to hold a rally last night at Concepcion Plaza in Tarlac City.
Roco barnstormed yesterday the home province of his political mentor, slain senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., who introduced the young Roco to national politics in the 1960s.
"It was in Tarlac where I learned my national politics," he said "My political roots are in Tarlac. My first real campaign nationally was with Ninoy Aquino."
When Ninoy made a successful bid for the Senate in 1967, he asked the young Roco to handle the youth.
However, Roco begged off, so he was given the Bicol Region as his assignment.
When Ninoy won, Roco worked in his legal staff and helped draft the Study Now, Pay Later law.
Roco said he first met Ninoy in 1964 when he came as a speaker in his graduation at the San Beda College of Law.
"Maybe, he saw that I had so many medals than," he said. "So after the graduation, he asked me to work for him."
Roco’s vice presidential running mate is Ninoy’s uncle.
The Alyansa ng Pag-asa candidates held a motorcade in several towns in Tarlac, making stopovers at markets and schools.