Comelec open anew to holding poll debates

Commission on Elections Chairperson George Garcia | PHOTO: INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is open to holding election debates again before the May 2025 midterm elections.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia, however, said these events should be organized by media companies.

“As provided under Republic Act 9006 (Fair Elections Act), debates should actually be managed by media entities. The Comelec will just be there to supervise and coordinate with the candidates,” the poll body chief said in an interview Thursday.

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Garcia said he believed that having electoral debates would benefit the electorate who would get to know their candidates more.

“Discussions will be based on the candidates’ platform, stand on issues, and their principles,” he said.

In the 2022 polls, the Comelec canceled the last two of the five-debate series for presidential and vice presidential candidates after its private partner, Impact Hub Manila, encountered financial woes with Sofitel Philippine Plaza, the venue of the “PILIpinas Debates 2022.”