Palace claims debates only for publicity
MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidates of the opposition slate Otso Diretso are challenging administration bets to a debate to gain publicity, Malacañang said yesterday.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said administration candidates did not accept the challenge because they did not want to give their opponents media mileage.
“I can understand that those from the other side, they want to debate because it would give them publicity. They (administration candidates) did not want to give their rivals publicity,” Panelo said in a radio interview.
“That’s how it is in the Philippines. Survival of the fittest,” he added.
Otso Diretso bets invited their rivals from the administration-backed slate Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) to a public debate at Plaza Miranda that was supposed to be held last Feb. 25.
HNP bets did not show up because there was no agreement about the rules and venue, according to presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Her remark prompted Otso Diretso bets to ask the Commission on Elections to organize a debate. – With Roel Pareño, Paolo Romero, Helen Flores
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