Opposition on Sara’s 1 vs 8 debate dare: She’s not the candidate

Updated (8: 37 p.m.)

DIGOS CITY, Philippines — Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) campaign manager Sara Duterte-Carpio is not running for the senatorial race, opposition senatorial candidates pointed out Friday after the presidential daughter dared the Otso Diretso coalition to a one versus eight debate.

READ: Sara Duterte on opposition’s debate dare: ‘Kami nalang, 1 vs 8’

This was after the Commission on Election (Comelec) rejected Otso Diretso’s request to organize a debate, citing logistical issues and time restraints.

READ: Comelec denies Otso Diretso’s request for debate

“Hindi naman siya yung kandidato e. Ang kandidato yung mga kandidatong tumatakbo sa ilalim ng Hugpong ng Pagbabago (She’s not the candidate. The candidates are those running under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago),” former congressman Erin Tañada said when asked to comment on Duterte-Carpio’s dare.

“E kung balak po ni Sara na tumakbo, may 2022 naman e. 2019, yung mga kandidato niya ang humarap po sa amin (If Sara wants to run for elections, she can wait until 2022. In 2019, her candidates should face us),” Tañada added.

Former solicitor general Florin Hilbay also stressed that Duterte-Carpio is not a candidate and that her slate should face Otso Diretso instead.

“Unfortunately, Mayor Sara is not running for the Senate. Ang gusto talaga namin makadebate yung mga kalebel namin na tumatakbo, yung mga tumatakbo para sa Senado (We want to debate those who are running for a Senate post like us),” Hilbay said.

Although the Comelec junked their request to organize a debate, Hilbay said he hopes the HNP candidates will face them in any debate.

“We’re hoping that the senatorial candidates of Hugpong can find the courage to confront us so that the people will be fully informed,” Hilbay said.

“Hindi ito laban ng Otso Diretso laban kay Mayor Sara Duterte. Hindi yun yung labanan dito (This is not a fight between Otso Diretso and Mayor Sara Duterte. There is no fight here,” he added.

Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc likewise emphasized that the candidates, not the campaign manager, should face other candidates.

“Kailangan yung kandidato (the candidates should be the ones to participate in a debate). We respect Sara. She’s the spokesman,” Gutoc said.

Gutoc said in jest that Duterte-Carpio should debate with Otso Diretso’s campaign manager Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan: “Pwedeng Sara versus Kiko, who is our campaign manager. Senator Kiko.”

“Kailangan aktwal na kandidato. Yun ang isusulat sa balota (It should be the candidates or those whose names people will write in the ballots),” she added.

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano said Duterte-Carpio should let candidates under her slate speak for themselves.

“Ang pagkakaalam ko hindi naman si Mayor Sara ang tumatakbo sa Senado (What I know is that Mayor Sara is not running for senator). She should let the senatorial candidates of Hugpong to speak for themselves and explain their stand on different issues affecting our country and the Filipino people,” Alejano said in a statement on Friday.

Alejano said “this diversionary tactic of Mayor Sara only highlights the cowardice of her senatorial bets.”

For election lawyer Romy Macalintal, Duterte-Carpio’s challenge “is an admission that she has to protect her bets by sparing them the agony of facing the people and answering questions publicly.”

“Sara should not allow her bets to hide under her mantle of protection and should not act like babies who should be nursed by Sara for their political needs,” Macalintal added. /ee