Binay hopes Cebu debates would tackle platforms, not issues

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, La Union – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday expressed hopes that the next presidential debates in Cebu would focus more on track record of the presidential contenders.

In a statement, Binay said the Feb. 20 Cagayan De Oro (CDO) city presidential debate sponsored by GMA Network and the Philippine Daily Inquirer  was a “misnomer”  because he was grilled about his family’s properties and his claim that he was poor.

Binay said even Sen. Miriam Santiago was not spared and she was asked about her stance on political dynasties.

“Basta ‘yong Sunday na ‘yon, misnomer naman ‘yong “debate” do’n. Hindi naman debate ‘yon,” Binay said at the sidelines of his campaign sortie in the City of San Fernando, La Union.

“Yung unang debate, ang subject matter do’n, track record. Track record [pero] itinanong sa akin, lupa. Ang tinanong kay Miriam, dynasty. Track record ba ‘yon? Siguro there’ll be an improvement. Ang improvement would be, kung ano ang subject matter, ‘yon lang ang magiging tanong,” he added.

Binay said he hoped the next debates to be held on March 20 at the University of the Philippines in Cebu sponsored by TV 5 and the Philippine Star would focus more on the candidates’ platforms and programs.

“Basta’t kailangan pursuant to the very reason why you have that activity. And what is this? It is to educate, to inform the voters kung ano ang platform, ano ang plans and programs ng kandidato. No more, no less,” Binay said.

Earlier, Binay had said he was dismayed at the format of the CDO debates, citing the long commercial breaks that could have been dedicated to the debate.

“‘Yung mga nakapanood sa inyo sa debate, mukhang mali ho yata yung pagkakadebateng yun… Mas mahaba pa ho ang commercial kaysa sa malaman kung ano ang dapat malaman sa kandidato,” Binay said during his campaign sortie in Tanauan, Batangas on Feb. 24.

He said he would write to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to suggest that the Comelec be the one to handle the presidential debates.

He said the public interest should be the priority and not the corporate interest.

“Yung pagganun sa telebisyon, dapat masuri, marinig kung ano ang paninindigan at ano ang pinaniniwalaan ng kandidato, at kung bakit siya ay dapat iboto. Eh pagkahaba haba ng komersiyal. Ang akin ho gagawin ay susulat ho ako sa Comelec, kung pwede ba ikaw na lang ang gumastos. Ang laki po ng interes eh yung mga kikitain ng mga palabas,” Binay said.

“Kulang na kulang naman po sa oras na matugunan ang dapat magawa ng mga haharap na mga kandidato,” he added.

Binay was asked during the CDO debate how his family could not afford medication for his ailing mother when they could have sold part of their  properties.

Binay said his current properties were the fruits of hard work and inheritance.

He said when his mother died of breast cancer when he was nine years old, he could not have had a role in the family decision not to sell the properties.

Binay declared two inherited properties in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities Networth.

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