Comelec chief wants participation of all Senate bets in debates

Commission on Elections Chairperson George Garcia INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO
MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia on Friday said that all senatorial bets should participate in possible election debates to ensure fairness.
According to Garcia, the poll body will intervene with debates to ensure that it will be “fair and just for everyone.” He earlier said that while there is no law mandating candidates to attend debates, the poll body can endorse debates hosted by media outlets.
READ: Comelec mulls order to compel candidates to attend debates
“Willing kaming mag issue ng kahit na anong resolusyon makasigurado lang na pantay-pantay ang oportunidad para sa mga kandidato, ano man po ang partido, o walang partido, anuman ang pinapaniwalaan o walang pinapaniwalaan. Basta dapat mayroong equal opportunity na makipagdebate,” Garcia said in the sidelines of the signing of memorandum of agreement between Comelec and Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
(We are willing to issue any kind of resolution that will ensure equal opportunities for the candidates, whether they belong to [political] parties or not, whatever their beliefs are. They should have equal opportunity to participate in debates.)
Article continues after this advertisement“Kaya lang, sa ating mga istasyon, kung magpapadebate kayo na ipapaalam samin, pakisigurado, 66 ang kandidato natin, 66 ang dapat na magpaparticipate,” Garcia added.
Article continues after this advertisement([Radio and TV] Stations who want to hold debates should inform us and ensure that our 66 candidates shall participate.)
There are currently 66 senatorial bets to be included in the ballot after Norman Mangusin, or popularly known as Francis Leo Marcos, and Chavit Singson withdrew from the race.
The Supreme Court reversed the poll body’s declaration of Mangusin and Subair Guinthum Mustapha as nuisance candidates, therefore initially adding their names in the ballots.
READ: Disqualified bets with pending SC appeals can’t be included on ballots
Garcia in a radio interview on Friday also said that the poll body is considering issuing a resolution that would compel candidates to participate in debates. He said that the debates can help voters scrutinize candidates, including their stand on certain issues.