MANILA, Philippines — All candidates in the 2022 elections should join debates, especially those set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), to allow them to present before voters their respective government platforms, an official of the election watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said Wednesday.
PPCRV Chairman Emeritus, Ambassasor Henrietta De Villa said debates and fora are the only opportunities for candidates to present to voters their plans for the country should they win in the May 9 polls.
Candidates can also prove their competence in the positions they are seeking in the exchanges among the aspirants, she said.
“Sana lahat sila [candidates] lumahok dito sa mga inaalok na debate, interview. Lumahok sila kasi ito ang pagkakataon na ipaalam sa mga botante kung ano ‘yung kanilang form of government at ‘yung mga platform of government,” De Villa said in a Laging Handa public briefing.
(I hope all of the candidates will participate in the debates and interviews. They should participate because it is their opportunity to let the voters know their platform of government.)
“Doon sa pagtatanungnan, kasi iba iba ‘yung tanong, lumalabas din dun kung ano yung kanilang kakayahan para sa pwestong hinahangad nila,” she added.
(And in the exchanges of questions, they can prove their competence for the position they are vying.)
De Villa said candidates should not fear joining debates for as long as they are “offering the truth.”
“Lumahok kayo kasi anong tinatango niyo kung hindi kayo lalahok? May tinatago ba kayo, may kinakatakot ba kayo? Wala. Kung naman totohanan ang inyong inaalok at inaalay sa bayan, edi walang problema kung sumali kayo,” she said.
(Participate. What are you hiding that you don’t want to participate? Are you hiding something? Are you scared of something? Nothing. If you are offering the truth, there is no problem for you in joining.)
De Villa also urged voters to watch and listen to the debates and see just how sincere the candidates are.
“Para sa mga botante, ito lang pagkakataon na madidinig nila ang mga kandidato at mahahambing nila kung ano ‘yung mga programang inaalok ng mga kandidato. Mararamdaman nila kung ano yung sinseridad ng mga kandidato,” she said.
(For voters, it is their only opportunity to hear from the candidates their programs, they would be able to compare. They can also feel the sincerity of the candidates.)
The camp of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said there is no guarantee yet if the former senator would be attending future debates, saying they would first check if an event is an interview or a debate.
Marcos Jr.’s chief-of-staff Atty. Vic Rodriguez said candidates should be interviewed and not pitted against other aspirants like in debates.
Marcos has since declined two interviews and fora hosted journalists: the interview with veteran journalist Jessica Soho and the forum by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas.
In both fora, presidential candidates Panfilo Lacson, Isko Moreno, Manny Pacquiao, and Leni Robredo were present. Leody De Guzman also participated in the KBP forum.
Marcos’ non-attendance led to “#MarcosDuwag” trending online, a namesake that the Marcos himself has denied.