‘Otso Diretso’ presses Comelec: Organize senatorial debate with ‘Hugpong’

MANILA, Philippines — Opposition team “Otso Diretso” has pushed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to organize the senatorial debate, reminding the poll body of its mandate to exhaust all means to inform voters about candidates’ qualifications.

Election lawyer and senatorial bet Romulo Macalintal said that if the Comelec would insist that it won’t organize the senatorial debate “that shows the weakness of Comelec.”

Otso Diretso team. NOY MORCOSO / INQUIRER.net

Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas said they will no longer organize the senatorial debate due to time constraints.

READ: Comelec: Time constraints hampering Otso-Hugpong debate

It was Otso Diretso that asked Comelec to organize a public debate between them and administration-backed Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) party.

READ: Otso candidates ask Comelec to arrange debate with Hugpong rivals

“Kung ‘yun ang position ng Comelec, that only shows the weakness of Comelec. Napakahina naman ng ating Commission on Elections,” Macalintal said in a press conference in Marikina on Wednesday.

According to Macalintal, Comelec is tasked under the law to do everything it can to inform voters about the qualifications of candidates.

“Gawan ‘yan ng paraan. Under the Constitution, under the Omnibus Election Code, the Comelec is given the broad power to exercise all acts necessary to inform the electorate on the qualifications of candidates and to ensure the clean and credible elections,” Macalintal pointed out.

Another Otso Diretso candidate, former Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada, said the Comelec would only have to set the debate rules, which media organizations should follow.

“Simple lang naman ang hinihiling namin dun ‘yung just to set the ground rules. Ngayon kung ma-set na ‘yung ground rules, I’m sure the media stations here would pick it up and abide by the ground rules set by the Comelec,” Tañada said in the same press briefing.

For former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, Comelec should not only conduct elections but also intensify education of voters.

“The core function of Comelec is not simply to conduct elections but to ensure the voters are more educated when they go to the polling places,” Hilbay said. /kga