MANILA, Philippines — It is unlikely that the Commission on Elections would organize a public debate between the opposition Otso Diretso and the administration-backed Hugpong ng Pagbabago.
Last week, Rep. Gary Alejano (Magdalo party-list), Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc, and lawyers Romulo Macalintal and Florin Hilbay submitted a letter to the Comelec asking the poll body to facilitate a debate between them and the Hugpong ng Pagbabago senatorial ticket.
Related Stories
The opposition bets stressed the debate would be beneficial to the voting public.
But Comelec Chair Sheriff Abas said the poll body has no more time to organize a debate.
“So far, ang problema natin oras. Wala na kaming oras for an official debate (So far, the problem is time. We don’t have time for an official debate),” Abas said in an interview on CNN Philippines Monday.
But Abas said the Comelec en banc would discuss the opposition candidates’ request for a debate on Wednesday.
He also said that it would be difficult to stage a debate for all 62 contenders for Senate posts.
“Ang problema natin, unlike in presidential [elections], kakaunti ‘yung candidates. Eh ito nasa 62. Even the platform, system of debate, nahirapan din ang mga [television] network. Mahirap siya buuin for a midterm elections (Our problem is unlike in presidential elections, there are fewer candidates. Here, we have 62. Even television networks are having a hard time on the platform and the system of the debate),” Abas said.
The poll chief, however, said he would support debates organized by television networks.
“Maganda ‘yung debate. Nakikita ng tao mismo ‘yung mga kandidato, ano ‘yung kanilang plataporma, kanilang personalities (Debates are good because people get to know the candidates, their platforms, their personalities),” Abas said.
The Otso Diretso held a public event at Plaza Miranda in Manila on February 25, but candidates from the PDP-Laban and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio-led Hugpong ng Pagbabago did not attend.
Malacañang dismissed the call for debate as an attempt by the opposition slate to gain publicity. — Gaea Katreena Cabico