Despite almost two-hour delay: Sparks fly at debate

CEBU, Philippines - After an almost two-hour delay, the second leg of the presidential debates finally started shortly before 7 p.m. at the University of the Philippines Cebu.

The problem: Vice President Jejomar Binay’s insisted on bringing documents to the podium which was against the rules imposed by the Commission on Elections.

Luchi Cruz Valdez, TV5 News head, apologized to Binay for initially agreeing to the use of notes as she thought it was allowed until the clarification from Comelec Chairman AndresBautista.

The debate proper was supposed to start at 5 p.m.

While still off-air however, the candidates stood ready at their designated podiums except for Binaywho left to confer with his staff.Thecandidates  exchanged polite conversation and even made the audience laugh with their witty remarks.

“Ba’t mo naman inaway?” Duterte asked Roxas after Binay.

At one point it was announced that Binay would no longer join the debate,causing a stir in the Media Center located at the ground floor of the building.

Debate rules reportedly includes that they can bring notes, but not on stage and they cannot use it as the debate starts.

Heated exchanges

When the debate finally started, candidates ganged up on Binay on issues of corruption. Many of the questions thrown at them ended up as accusations of corruption against the Binay Family.

The candidates were asked their stance on the Freedom of Information Bill. Binay said that his first act as president will be to push for the FOI.

“Kailangan ng FOI. Ito ang sagot sa graft and corruption – transparency,” Binay said.

Both Poe and Duterte, however, questioned how Binay would be able to support the bill when he himself will not open his accounts to the public.

From the FOI bill,Binay shifted the talk to Poe’s citizenship, attacking her for renouncing her Filipino citizenship, but the latter respondedwith corruption allegations.

Mas mabuti nang magtrabaho ng tapat kaysa umasa sa magulang at mangulimbat ng pera,” she said regarding OFWs.

Yolanda

Like other topics raised, the issue over Yolanda aid and if it was used properly by the government, started a heated discussion between the candidates, particularly between Duterte, Binay and Roxas.

Cebuano broadcast journalist Ruphil Bañoc asked Roxas why private organizations are better in addressing the problems of Yolanda victims when in fact it is the responsibility of the government.

Roxas denied the government has not done anything to help Yolanda victims. He disclosed that P90 billion has been allocated for the Yolanda-affected areas.

Out of the said amount, P4 billion went through the Department of Interior and Local Government, which Roxas headed, and has been downloaded to provinces for structural repairs. He added 90 percent of projects have been completed and they intend to do more.

However, Duterte hit Roxas for not telling the truth on his presence and the help extended by the government to the Yolanda-affected areas.

Poeraised the issue on lack of communication before and after the supertyphoon.

Binay also said Roxas was not able to liquidate the amount for the said projects if indeed 93 percent has been completed, but Roxas defended that he has, in fact, liquidated it and Binay may have been looking at old documents.

“If gusto mo lang siraan ako, at least gamitin mo current data,” said Roxas.

When Duterte was asked how he will deal with the climate promise to the United Nations while the country builds more and more coal plants, Duterte called the UN hypocrites and said UN cannot impose sanctions on coal-producing countries, particularly the Philippines which has a very small carbon footprint.

“We need to industrialize... we need energy to develop,” he said.

“Kapag ako naging pangulo, bigyan ko ng insentibo ang producers ng clean energy sources,” he also said.

Poe said she will develop other energy sources including solar energy.

Roxas said he will give incentives to natural gas and clean energy suppliers.

“We need plans for solar energy, hydro power,” he said.

Crime resolution

The debate also questioned Duterte’s claim to eradicate criminality in the country within six months if elected.

“Ang sabi raw po ninyo tatapusin niyo ang krimen sa Pilipinas sa loob lamang po ng anim  na buwan. Pero ayon po sa statistics authority, Davao City ang may pinakamataas na crime rate sa buong Davao Region noong 2010 at 2012.Ang tanong ng ilan siguro, paano niyo tutuldukan ang krimen sa buong bansa sa loob lang ng anim na buwan kung sa Davao City na kayo’y naging mayor for two decades ay may problema pa po sa krimen?” asked TV5 anchor Ed Lingao.

Duterte responded by comparing a drug raid in Malabon to one in Davao. In the former, he said, the suspects were just arrested while in the latter, the suspects were killed. The audience cheered.

“Sabi mo, how can I do it in six months? Gagawin ko yung ginawa ko sa Davao. If I say do not come here, you do not come here. If I say leave Davao, you leave Davao. If you do not do that, you’re dead,” he said.

Roxas, in his reaction, recalled that while he was still the Interior secretary, he wrote Duterte a letter noting that 30 to 40 Davao City barangays were deemed “drug-infested” by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

“Sa ngayon, andyan pa rin ang mga barangay nay an, drug infested pa rin. Hindi ko kinikwestiyon ang kanyang pagnanais na tanggalin ang droga sa Davao, sa buong Pilipinas. Kinukwetyon ko ngayon ang kakayahan na magawa niya ito in six months,” said Roxas.

The mayor rebutted Roxas may have forgotten that as DILG secretary, he “controls the police and has administrative power on everybody.” He said city mayors can only give guidance to the police.

Roxas dismissed this by claiming that as DILG secretary, the agency was able to confiscate P7.5 billion in drugs.

Roxas also slammed Duterte’s apparent brusque “brand of justice” which he described as untruthful, abrupt, and blind kind of justice that does not value human life.

To this, Duterte rebuked, “Kung hindi ka marunong pumatay ng tao at takot kang mamatay, yan ang problema, you cannot be a president,” further drawing cheers from the crowd.

Poeacknowledged the lack of policemen and equipment for them. If elected, she said she would also install former Marine Corps colonel Ariel Querubin as her crime czar. 

Second round

During the second round the candidates were allowed to ask each other questions. When Binay was asked to pose a question to Duterte Binay had no questions.

In turn, Duterte said he had no answer to Binay, drawing laughter from the crowd:

“Wala akong maitanong. Kasi pareho kaming qualified to be president ... He is more qualified than me. Naniwala naman kayo,” he said jokingly.

Duterte asked Poe what she would do if as president someone called her  in the middle that China has destroyed our Coast Guard cutter.

Poe said she will preventively stop this from happening by working to build up the armed forces

When pressed further about the Spratlys issue,Poe said she will constructively engage China to follow the international court.

Poe asked Roxas why PNoy trusted Purisima and not him on the Mamasapano incident. Roxas said the issue was hidden from him.

“Itinago sa akin ang isyu na ito, ang Mamasapano operation,” he said.

Roxas got boos from debate hall audience on answer that Aquino thought he knew about Mamasapano.

But Roxas said the operation was a success like their response to the Zamboanga siege.

“Matagumpay ang operasyon sa Zamboanga. Nai-rescue natin ang hostages, naibalik natin ang law, peace and order,” he said.

Roxas and Binay also tussled on the issue of corruption.

“May katiwalaan sa Makati nung kayo ay nanunungkulan,” Roxas said.

“Ikaw ang pasimuno ng demolition by perception. Di masasabing guilty kung walang hatol ng hukuman. Bintang lang kayo ng bintang,” Binay said.

When Roxas accused Binay of overpricing items, Binay said they do not look at the price but the quality of the items.

“Hindi ho sa presyo tinitingnan kung tama ba ang kalidad ng bagay...We are entitled to buy mamahalin,” he said.

During the debate the candidates were asked to raise their hands if they agreed to certain issues. When asked if they would legalize divorce no one raised a hand. Only Duterte was in favor of burying dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani and he and Poe also favored the death penalty.

Reactions

Comelec chairman Bautista said he was impressed by the debate because of the interesting exchangeof answers and ideas.

Duterte,  said “it was fair and good one” and they were able to espouse their respective advocacies.

Binay chose to remain mum on the issue of the notes that stalled the start of the debate for over an hour. In fact, Binay declined interviews after the debate.

For Poe, when the media asked her on the ‘strong’ character she showed during the debate, she said she was just showing what was needed to be shown.

“Palaban kung kailangan lumaban,” she said.   

She said that studying, as well as consulting other officials, also equipped her for yesterday’s debate.

“Nakita ng kababayan natin ang mga sagot ko. Nasagot ko lahat. Malaman at walang pa bola-bola,” said Roxas after the debate.

When asked if he thinks Duterte’s comments against him were offensive, he said, “Kilala ko si Digong. Kung hanggang diyan lang ang kanyang argumentation eh tanggapin na lang natin yan.” — /BRP (FREEMAN)