Debate better for candidates lacking funds, says Gutoc

Because they do not have a huge campaign war chest, independent and opposition senatorial candidates have no choice but to try to nudge survey leaders into a war of words, an Otso Diretso member said on Wednesday.

“So [a] debate is an equalizer of sorts,” said Samira Gutoc, Marawi civic leader and peace advocate.

Like most of her fellow opposition candidates, Gutoc has been trailing in surveys. But, she said, a televised debate would level the playing field.

She noted that those leading, including incumbent and returning senators, were bolstering their visibility through advertisements and billboards, which their rivals could not afford.

Campaign funds

“I think having money to pay for all of these should have no bearing on one’s qualifications to run as senator,” said Gutoc, who once served as assemblywoman in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“But sadly, it does,” she added.

On Wednesday, Gutoc renewed her appeal for a “professional and holistic debate.”

Since the campaign season began, candidates endorsed by President Duterte under the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, as well as those running under his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s regional Hugpong ng Pagbabago party, had avoided debates and forums.

‘Disservice to electorate’

In February, Otso Diretso challenged members of Hugpong to a public debate in Plaza Miranda, but none of them showed up.

“Hugpong [candidates] … should be the most excited and willing … to engage in debates because they are backed by the administration,” Gutoc said. “If they truly believe that the administration has ushered us to progress, then they should have nothing to fear.”

A debate, she said, would “let people know (the candidates’) stand on issues.”

Shallow banter

“Again, let us not engage in shallow banter and focus on issue-based discussions. By all means, prove that we are weak by engaging us in a fruitful debate,” Gutoc said in a statement.

“Please stop committing this great disservice to the Filipino electorate,” she added.