Pacquiao: Better if candidates are not given advance copy of debate topics

Senator Manny Pacquiao, presidential candidate for the 2022 elections, speaks in one of his sorties in Rizal. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday said it would be better if candidates are not given the topics in debates in advance because they should be able to face any question head-on if they are going to lead the country.

Pacquiao said candidates should not be picky on the questions that they are going to be asked since they are applying as leaders of the country so they should be open to any challenge.

“Mas maganda siguro hindi [magbigay ng advanced topics] dahil para makita natin ‘yung purity ng isang kandidato. Tumatakbo ka ng Presidente eh, dapat handa kang harapin ‘yung mga tanong na maaring ibabato sayo. Handa kang sagutin hindi yung aalamin mo ‘yung mga questions, mahirap ‘yan,” he said in an interview in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

(It is better if candidates are not given the topics in advance so that we can see the purity of the candidate. You are running for President, you should be ready for any question that may be thrown at you. You should be ready to answer, instead of asking first the questions.)

“Dapat hindi ka mapili ng tanong kasi pag tumatakbo ka ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas as much as possible lahat ng tanong  pwede itatanong sayo dahil ikaw nag-aapply na maging leader ng bansa so kailangan open ka sa lahat ng mga tanong hindi ‘yung pipiliin mo ‘yung mga tanong,” Pacquiao added.

(You shouldn’t be picky and filter the questions that you may be asked because you’re running for the presidency so as much as possible, all the questions should be asked to you because you are applying to be a leader.)

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it will meet with the representatives of presidential and vice presidential candidates this week to lay down the ground rules and general topics on the debates it will hold on March 19.

The camp of Marcos Jr. earlier wrote Comelec and other presidential candidates, requesting to tackle the format of the debate prior to March 19.

READ: Marcos camp: Attendance in Comelec debates only confirmed if ‘hectic’ schedule permits

In the letter, Marcos Jr.’s campaign manager Benhur Abalos Jr. said it would be “more proper and prudent if all presidential candidates will be given an opportunity to discuss before the Commission among themselves the format, which will include the issues to be discussed, the time allotment for each, the right to respond and rebut his/her arguments, who will be the moderator, among others.”

READ: Bongbong ordered me to ask Comelec, bets to first tackle debate format – Abalos

Pacquiao said that those asking for the debate format probably want to study their answers first so they would not commit mistakes. However, he said it is better to answer questions “on the spot” because candidates can show that they are sincere and true to their word.

“Siguro para hindi sila magkamali, pag-aralan nila ang mga sagot nila. Ako nga hindi naman naghingi ng mga advance question, ready naman ako pero may mga ganun diba? Wala ng hingian, surprise surprise,” he said.

(Maybe they just don’t want to commit mistakes so they want to study how they will answer. But I don’t ask for advanced questions, I am ready.)

While Pacquiao believes that it is within the right of a candidate whether to attend a debate, he said a candidate who skips debates cannot be trusted.

He said debates are a good platform to let the public know their platforms and programs.

“Debate pa lang natatakot na, paano ‘pag nanalo ka na eh, natatakot baka magnakaw naman ng pera ng gobyerno diba? Pero karapatan naman nila yan na hindi mag-attend ng debate pero ang taumbayan kasi gusto nilang malaman yung plataporma mo, ‘yung plano mo sa kanila, sa taumbayan, sa bansa, para sa kinabukasan,” he said.

(If they are scared to attend even just debates, what will happen if they win? They might be corrupt. But that’s their right if they attend or not but the public would want to know your platforms, your plans for them, plans for the country, and plans for the future.)

JPV