Malacañang okay with Comelec’s plan for presidential debates

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang welcomed on Saturday, August 8, the plan of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to organize presidential debates in many parts of the country for the 2016 national elections.

In an interview with Radyo ng Bayan, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said that such debates will allow the electorate to get to know the candidates and their platforms better.

“Mahalaga po sa isang eleksyon na malaman ng mga mamamayan ang mga isyu na dapat nilang pagpasyahan,” Coloma said. (It is important in an election that the people understand the issues that they need to decide on.)

“Mahalaga rin na makilala nila ang mga kandidato at ang pagdaraos ng isang tagisan, katulad ng isang debate, ay mainam na paraan para matamo ang mga layunin na ‘yan,” he added. (It is also important that they get to know the candidates, and the conduct of a contest like a debate is a good way to achieve that goal.)

The Comelec noted that it already has a draft resolution for the holding of presidential debates in various venues in the Philippines. However, preparations have yet to start, the poll body said.

“Kaya hintayin po natin ang magiging programa ng Comelec. Sa atin pong palagay ay ginagawa nila ang kanilang tungkulin na maitaguyod ang mahusay na partisipasyon ng ating mga mamamayan sa isang maayos at kapani-paniwalang eleksyon,” Coloma continued.

(So let’s wait for the Comelec’s program. We believe that they are doing their duty to ensure the effective participation of the people in an orderly and credible election.)

The last presidential debate hosted by the Comelec took place in 1992.

The poll body had previously urged Congress to pass the bill creating a Presidential Debate Commission in time for the 2016 polls. A separate entity from the Comelec, the said commission would schedule and organize presidential and vice presidential debates. – Michael Bueza/Rappler.com

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