Comelec gets P15 million bill for 2022 debate series

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections’ partner for the Pilipinas Debates 2022 is demanding a P15.3-million payment from the Comelec.

In a two-page notice of demand to pay dated April 27, Impact Hub Manila legal counsel Ma. Karla Denise Frias said the Comelec has not paid her client for helping organize last year’s election debates.

The poll body claimed to have received the notice only on May 8.

“Despite our client’s repeated demands, both verbally and via email, the claims have remained unpaid. As such, please consider this as the final demand to coordinate and set a meeting with us to discuss the settlement of the outstanding balance,” Frias declared.

“Please note that failure to respond or to make a payment arrangement within the next five days upon receipt of this notice will leave us with no option but to avail of the legal remedies under the law to recover the debt and to protect the company’s interests,” she added.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said they could not yet pay the amount because there are still ongoing investigations. “Not a single cent” has been paid, he noted.

Garcia said the Comelec is “determining whether everything was in order or whether somewhere along the way, serious issues of questionable nature did set in.”

“We cannot be rushed to settle, more so that there are criminal, civil and administrative liabilities being investigated,” Garcia said.

Upon taking over as Comelec chairman in July 2022, Garcia said he moved for the creation of an investigating panel on issues surrounding the debates.

“The panel submitted a report several months ago. However, the (Comelec) en banc returned it to the body with the instructions to clearly pinpoint the specific laws and provisions involved, the responsibilities if there be any of certain mentioned individuals and a more detailed recommendations based on the facts and the laws applicable,” he said.

In early 2022, the Comelec partnered with Impact Hub Manila to produce the five-debate series for presidential and vice presidential candidates in the May 2022 polls with Sofitel Philippine Plaza as the venue of the event.

The last two debates were rescheduled and eventually canceled by the Comelec after Impact Hub Manila reportedly encountered financial issues with Sofitel.

The debate mess eventually prompted the commission to conduct an internal probe.

Then Comelec education and information department chief James Jimenez reportedly gave his vote of confidence to Impact Hub Manila and promised that the commission would release the P15.3 million.