Presidential debates to start in February – Comelec

MANILA, Philippines - Three months before Election Day, presidential candidates would face off in a no holds barred series of debates, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said the first of the three presidential debates will be on Feb. 21 in Mindanao, the second will be on March 20 in the Visayas region and the third and final debate is on April 24 in a province in Luzon.

The vice-presidential debate, on the other hand, will be held on April 10 in Metro Manila.

“No holds barred.  If they go personal, that is part of the debate. But for me, we have to trust the voters – that they can judge who among the candidates are qualified to lead us,” Bautista said.

Television networks and their newspaper partners will draw lots on which debate they will host. The STAR is partnered with TV5 and BusinessWorld.

The topics vary, depending on the area. In Mindanao, the topics would be agriculture development, poverty reduction/asset creation and redistribution, Charter change and peace and order.

In the Visayas, the topics will cover disaster preparedness/climate change adaptation, healthcare, education and fighting corruption. 

In Luzon, the topics would be on traffic and public transportation, electoral and political reforms, foreign policy, tax reforms and national defense.

Bautista, however, said participation in the debate is voluntary.

“We will not impose, but not participating in this debate will also send a message. I think the people do not want someone who is a coward.  They want a candidate who can face them,” he said.

The Comelec is leaving it up to the civil society groups to organize debates among senatorial candidates.

For local candidates, the Comelec suggested local officials should organize the debates.

Minority president

Sectors have called for organizing presidential debates to allow the electorate to choose among the many aspirants.

Ramon Casiple, a political analyst, said the country’s next chief executive stands to be a minority president, considering the number of candidates in the presidential race.

“The more, the merrier because people will have more choices,” said Casiple, executive director of Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms.

Casiple said this could also not be good because whoever will be elected president may “not get the majority of the electorate to support him or her.”

“What’s the disadvantage if you are a minority president? You cannot make unpopular decisions because you will not get the support of the people. You may also have to toe the line because you are always being criticized,” he added.

In the end, the president’s decision-making will suffer, Casiple said.

Unlike in the past, Casiple said next year’s elections is no longer a contest of popularity and track records.

“Being popular is a plus factor but it is not enough to make you win. Voters also do not look at the candidates’ track records or performance – whether or not you are a veteran or neophyte,” Casiple said.

What makes a candidate win is the public perception that he is “for the poor” and helpful.

“Voters are looking for a champion, someone who could pursue their interests and someone who they could easily approach. Political party is also not a determinant if a candidate will win,” he added.

‘Individual preferences’

As for the political party Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), it has not decided who among the presidential and vice presidential aspirants it would support.

“We have not been able to discuss that for the past weeks because we are focused on the candidacies of our members in the local level. We will inform you the moment we have a decision,” NPC spokesman Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian said.

Though a number of party leaders have expressed preference for the tandem of Sens. Grace Poe and Francis Escudero, it is not yet sure whether it is the ticket NPC would support.

Gatchalian said all of his party’s options for 2016, insofar as the top elective posts were concerned, are still open.

The ruling Liberal Party (LP) is hoping that NPC, the second largest political group, would not endorse a presidential and vice presidential candidates.

“Local politics will prevent many congressmen and local officials belonging to NPC from doing that. These NPC members will want that the LP will not field candidates against them. That’s the reality in the local level,” House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said.

Gonzales, who belongs to the ruling party, cited the case of Reps. Mark Enverga of Quezon and George Arnaiz of Negros Oriental, who were planning to run for governor of their respective provinces.

“Naturally, they will want us as their allies so they will have no opponents from the administration,” he said.

Enverga will run against incumbent David Suarez of Lakas, son of former congressman Danilo Suarez and his wife, incumbent Rep. Aleta Suarez.

Gonzales said another NPC congressman who is similarly situated as Enverga and Arnaiz is Pedro Acharon Jr. of General Santos City.

“He is allied with the Antoninos, who are administration supporters,” he said.

Acharon was mayor of General Santos City before he ran for the congressional seat vacated by former congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio, who also served as mayor.

Darlene’s mother Luwalhati chairs Mindanao Development Authority. Darlene beat boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in her district the first time he ran for congressman, prompting the latter to transfer to Sarangani province, where he won and which he now represents in the House of Representatives.

Gonzales said the 11 or 12 NPC congressmen who met with LP presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II in August “have local issues.”

The top two NPC leaders – chairman Faustino Dy III and president Giorgidi Aggabao – are both from Isabela. Dy is a former governor and Aggabao is an incumbent congressman who is on his third and last term.

However, Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, who also comes from Isabela, said not all NPC members in their province would support Poe. – With Jess Diaz