No public debates for Poe, Lapid

Reelectionist Sen. Grace Poe and comebacking senatorial candidate Lito Lapid in a campaign sortie in Zambales. Photo courtesy of Sen. Grace Poe’s office.

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Grace Poe would rather face the people and answer their questions directly rather than engage in a public debate with fellow candidates.

Poe said this when asked in an interview on Wednesday if she would agree on a public debate with her rivals in the upcoming May 2019 senatorial election.

Sen. Grace Poe with comebacking senatorial candidate Lito Lapid in a campaign sortie in Zambales. Photo courtesy of Sen. Grace Poe’s office.

Otso Diretso bets earlier dared other senatorial candidates, particularly those leading the pre-election surveys, to a debate on key national issues.

READ: Otso Diretso bets want debate with opponents on key issues

“Ako naman kasi kung may tanong kayo, deretso nyo akong natatanong,”  Poe, who has been leading the recent surveys, told reporters in an interview in Zambales.

(As for me, if you have questions, you can ask me directly.)

Besides this, Poe pointed out that she already participated in so many public debates when she ran for president in 2016.

“Siguro maganda rin naman na umikot ako dahil mas deretsong nakakatanong ang ating mga kababayan,” she said.

(Maybe, it is also better for me to go around so that our countrymen can ask me directly.) 

“Sa debate kasi, yun lang, yung mga nandun ang nakakatanong. Ito, pwede akong tanungin… kahit  sa mga universities deretso yung mga tanong sa amin.”

(Because in a debate, that’s it, those who were there are the ones who can ask questions. But in this, anybody can ask me… even in universities, questions can be shared directly at us.)

Former Senator Lito Lapid, who also happened to be in Iba, Zambales campaigning, rejected the idea of joining any public debate.

READ: Lapid shuns debate with rivals: Di ako nakikipag contest sa pagalingan

“Hindi na [No longer needed],” said Lapid, who ranked third to sixth in latest senatorial survey  of Pulse Asia .

“Dalawang beses na akong naging senador pero hindi ako sumasali sa mga debate. Alam mo naman palaging tinitira sa akin edukasyon e…” 

(Twice I became senator without me joining those debates. Of course you know that education is one of their issues against me.)

Instead of attacking his educational background, Lapid said he would prefer that the questions be raised concerning his experience.

The former senator though noted that he had been a public servant for 24 years.

Poe came to the rescue of Lapid, reiterating that one’s character is more  important.

“Yung sinasabing edukasyon, importante yung edukasyon pero sabi ko nga ang pagkatao din mas importante,”  she said.

(They are saying that education is important, but I told them that personality is more important.)

The Senate, she said, should represent the people, and should not be limited  only to those with a college degree or a lawyer.

“Ang improtante, ano ba ang pwde mong maitulong at magawa. Yun ang sanang maging basehan,”  Poe said.

Poe, an independent candidate, and Lapid are both being endorsed by  the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

Lapid belongs to NPC, while Poe is the party’s adopted member. /jpv