Lacson questions Comelec partnership with private firm in staging debates

Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson (file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson on Friday questioned the move of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to tap a private contractor in securing a venue for its debates.

 “I cannot understand why Comelec will have to course through a lease contract of a venue of the vice presidential and presidential debates sa isang [to a] private contractor. We have to review the provisions, the pertinent provisions of Republic Act 9184, yung Government Procurement Act on this,” Lacson said in a press conference in Antipolo, Rizal.

 Lacson and his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III were in Rizal for a town hall meeting. They were joined by their senatorial candidates, former Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar, Dr. Minguita Padilla and former Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol.

 During the press conference, Lacson and Sotto were asked regarding the Comelec’s move to reschedule the last leg of its presidential and vice presidential debates.

This, after it was reported that Impact Hub Manila, Comelec’s partner for the PiliPinas Debates, failed to settle its obligation to Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila worth P14 million.

The third round of debates was supposed to be held in the said venue.

 “Di ko maintindihan bakit kailangan pa idaan sa private contractor. Comelec could have done it by themselves, mag-canvass sila ano yung pinaka-appropriate na lugar, ano yung pinaka-economical ano yung pinaka-feasable na lugar para pagdausan ng mga debates,” Lacson said.

 (I cannot understand why they have to tap a private contractor. Comelec could have done it by themselves, canvass venues to find the most appropriate, most economical and most feasible one to conduct the debates.)

 “Bakit kailangang idaan pa sa private contractor? Hindi ko maintindihan but we will have to review the pertinent provisions ng Republic Act 9184, tulad niyan, ngayon ipo-postpone,” he added.

(Why the need for a private contractor? I don’t understand but we will have to review the pertinent provisions of Republic Act 9184, look what happened now, they had to postpone.)

 Meanwhile, Lacson and Sotto said they will likely not attend the rescheduled debates since they already have prior commitments and with the May 9 election only around two weeks away.

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