Well worth the wait

CEBU CITY, Philippines – It took longer than expected to start, but when the second presidential debate got underway yesterday, it was well worth the wait.

The delay was caused by an apparent miscommunication on the rules set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Tensions rose as the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay raised a howl when he was told he could not bring notes on stage, delaying by more than an hour the second of the “PiliPinas Debates 2016.”

Binay insisted on bringing in documents, which was objected to by the camps of Manuel Roxas II, Sen. Grace Poe and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Without Binay, Poe, Duterte and Roxas went to their respective spots on the stage and shared jokes.

The three also greeted some personalities in the audience in a bid to lighten the mood as talks were held between organizers and the Binay camp backstage.  

After some commotion outside the debate hall and rumors of a walkout by Binay, the program started at past 6:30 p.m. instead of the original 5 p.m.

Mike Toledo, media bureau head of the MVP Group of Companies, and Noel Lorenzana, TV5 president and CEO, chat on the sidelines of the debate. KRISTINE JOYCE CAMPANA

The management of TV5, one of the main hosts of the debate, explained the delay.

In a statement, TV5 president Noel Lorenzana and TV5 news and public affairs department head Luchi Cruz-Valdes admitted that the host of the debate erred in communicating to the party of Binay and allowed him to bring and refer to his notes during the debate.

Binay relied on that communication and prepared his notes accordingly.

But the Comelec clarified that it has a standing rule that notes are not allowed during the debate proper, but one may refer to and review them during breaks.

“Ms. Luchi Cruz-Valdes and the management of TV5 take full responsibility for the confusion and disagreement,” TV5 management said.

“Despite the disagreement, the management, the Comelec and the presidential candidates have agreed that it is more important to allow the debate to proceed so as not to deprive the public of their right to witness this historical, exciting and Aksyon-filled event.”

Valdez apologized for the confusion on the rules and admitted that she told Binay he would be allowed to bring notes.

“In my earnest desire to make sure that all the candidates will be present, and not thinking that there was such a rule, I did say: ‘I think so, of course.’ After which I had asked whether there was any rule on that and I was not told that there was a rule,” she said.

Valdez called on Binay’s ally, Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla, who also echoed their concern.

When Valdez asked their stand on Binay’s concern, all three candidates took the same stand – that the rules agreed upon by all parties should be followed to the letter.

“We’re guests here. You invited us here. You informed us about the regulations. We have agreed on these rules…after a series of meetings between all representatives,” Roxas said.

“At no time, in fact, was it said that rules would be changed. I repeat ‘no notes’ is what was agreed on. I think that the Comelec can confirm that,” he said.

 “Are we a rules-based society or not? For me, let us just follow the rules and processes of this Comelec debate.”

For her part, Poe said it was fine with her if the Vice President wanted to bring in documents but doubted if Binay was not actually informed about the rules.

The Vice President defended his move, adding that he wanted to debate and also to show documents to prove his points.

“I’ve been there since Friday. I have here documents that I want to present so that I can use it to explain,” he said.

The “live-feed” from the Media Center, located at the ground floor of the UP Cebu auditorium, was cut-off while Binay was explaining his side on the matter, causing more commotion among members of the media who were covering the event.

During the debate proper, the candidates and panel of journalists discussed issues ranging from Freedom of Information, corruption and climate change.

The second round of the debate held at the University of the Philippines campus in Cebu under the Comelec and sponsored by The STAR, TV5 and Businessworld.