Comelec wants debates for local bets

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is encouraging the holding of debates for local candidates, and will provide the rules and regulations for such debates.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said the presidential and vice presidential debates being organized by the poll body could be replicated at the local level by the media, civil society groups and Comelec offices.

“We will share with them the rules and regulations. We encourage our candidates to focus on substantive issues and public policy pronouncements,” Bautista said.

As a matter of policy, the Comelec will have to be notified about the debates that will be organized at the start of election period.

For national elections, the campaign period will run from Feb. 9 to May 7, and for local polls from March 25 to May 7.

On Tuesday, the Comelec signed agreements with major news organizations, including The STAR, TV5 and BusinessWorld, for the holding of televised presidential debates in Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and any place in either Central or Southern Luzon.

A vice presidential face-off will also be held in Metro Manila.

Bautista said the debates would not be charged against the airtime allocation of each candidate.

He said the debates are meant to promote accountability among elected officials with respect to their campaign promises.

The conduct of debates is in compliance with Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Elections Act.

Bautista said the Comelec would be meeting with organizers of the presidential and vice presidential debates in order to narrow down the topics to be discussed.

He said the public would have a role to play in the debates, as the organizers will have to source from them most of the questions that will be asked of the candidates.