9 presidential bets to attend Comelec debate

MANILA, Philippines — Nine out of 10 presidential candidates have confirmed attendance at the second round of the presidential debate sponsored by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at 7 p.m. today at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.

Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Ping Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, former presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella, former defense secretary Norberto Gonzales, labor leader Leody de Guzman, businessman Faisal Mangondato and Dr. Jose Montemayor will be present for tonight’s debate, according to Comelec Commissioner George Garcia.

UniTeam standard-bearer former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has yet to confirm his attendance.

Marcos did not attend the first round of the Comelec presidential debate last March 19.

Asked if the Comelec is still hopeful that Marcos will attend the presidential debate, Garcia said they “would like to focus on those who confirmed and will be present” in tonight’s debate as he underscored that debates are important to the electorate.

“(Holding debates) means a lot, especially to the voters. A debate opens the minds and hearts of candidates to the electorate. A window to their souls,” he explained when asked about the importance of attending debates ahead of the May 9 elections.

The commissioner earlier admitted that the Comelec has failed to look for another sanction against debate skippers aside from losing the opportunity to use the poll body’s e-rally platform, as he emphasized that there is no law that punishes candidates who will not attend debates.

He said it would be unconstitutional if they would disqualify the candidates who will not attend debates, as he noted that candidates’ absence in debates are not even considered as an election offense under the Omnibus Election Code.

He stressed, however, that they have asked the help of the poll body’s law department and the education and information department to come up with other possible sanctions against debate skippers.

Garcia called on the House of Representatives to require debates during the election period so that the Comelec will have the power to penalize candidates who will refuse to participate in all forms of debates.

“We will not stop tackling that issue because our responsibility is not only to our fellow Filipinos, but also to debate attendees, that the public is assured that the Comelec is doing something against those who are absent in debates,” he said in Filipino.

Unlike the previous presidential debate, candidates who will attend tonight’s debate will be given more time and exposure to defend their stand on a particular issue or question that will be asked by the panelist, veteran journalist Ces Drilon.

There will be one general question that will be asked to all candidates at the start of the debate, while candidates will be divided in groups of three for the succeeding segment, where each group will be given one question to debate on, which means there will be a total of three questions for each succeeding segment.

There will be a total of four segments with the new format.

Each candidate will be given two minutes to answer the question and 30 seconds each for rebuttal.

The groups of three will change each segment; each group will be randomly pre-determined by drawing lots that will be held at 5 p.m. or two hours before the debate.

A 60-second closing statement will be given to all candidates.

After the second round of presidential debate, the Comelec said town hall interviews would be held for presidential and vice presidential candidates on April 23 and 24, respectively.