Chel Diokno said that he’s open to a public debate with President Duterte and other Senate bets.
CHEL DIOKNO — The human rights lawyer and senatorial aspirant said that he’s open to a public debate with President Rodrigo Duterte and other fellow senatorial candidates in the 2022 elections.
On Thursday, Diokno said on ANC’s “Rundown” that he would love to have a debate with President Duterte or with other senatorial aspirants.
“Kailan ang debate? I would love to have a debate with the President or with anyone else who is running for the Senate,” Diokno said.
President Duterte filed his certificate of candidacy for senator before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on the last day of the substitution of candidates last November 15.
This, after he initially planned to run as vice president to face Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte in the 2022 elections.
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Earlier, the President asked the poll body to release guidelines for the campaign period that would be attuned to the restrictions of the pandemic.
Manila Bulletin reported that COMELEC has yet to schedule any debate among senatoriables, leaving the private sector to arrange a face-off among senatorial candidates.
For Diokno, the public debate was the best way for Filipino voters in order to determine who were qualified for the seats in the Senate.
“After all, that’s what we’re going to be doing if ever we are elected. We will be debating bills and passing laws,” Diokno said.
The veteran lawyer, who has embraced the moniker “Ngipin ng Batas”, clarified in the same interview that he wasn’t affected by President Duterte’s tirades against him. According to him, he didn’t take those personally.
President Duterte has repeatedly made fun of Diokno’s physical appearance because of his large teeth.
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