The COMELEC wants to make participation in the debates it organizes mandatory.
COMELEC — The Commission on Elections wants to make participation in the debates it organizes mandatory, especially in the next polls.
On Monday, the poll body said that it would push for a law that could disqualify national and local candidates from the elections if they refuse to join debates.
According to COMELEC Commissioner George Erwin Garcia, the poll body wants to make participation in the debates it organizes mandatory, especially in the next polls.
Garcia said in a televised press briefing that they will convince Congress to require all national and local candidates to attend debates organized by the poll body.
“Kukumbinsihin po natin ang ating kagalang-galang na Kongreso na sana po ay ilagay na po talaga na requirement na a-attend lahat ng magiging kandidato, lokal man at nasyonal, sa mga ipapatawag na debate ng Commission on Election,” Garcia said. “Kung hindi, puwede siyang maging ground ng disqualification. At the same time, puwedeng maging ground ng election offense.“
Over the weekend, the poll body hosted the 2nd round of its 3 presidential debates ahead of the 2022 elections. Of 10 aspiring presidents, only former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. skipped the COMELEC debates twice so far.
With no law requiring political candidates to join debates, Garcia said that no-shows are only sanctioned with a ban on airing their “e-rallies” on the COMELEC platform.
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Garcia said that the last COMELEC debates for presidential and vice-presidential contenders are set on April 23 and 24, and these will follow a town hall meeting format.
“Ang debate, sabi ko nga, para itong isang pintuan na magpapakita sa ‘yo ng kaloob-looban at kaisipan ng isang kandidato. Napakaimportante po ito dahil makikita rin ang kahandaan ng kandidato na humarap sa kaniyang mga kababayan na nililigawan niya,” Garcia said.
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