TV5 news executive and presidential debate moderator Luchi Cruz-Valdes on Sunday evening apologized for the delay of the 2nd presidential debate because she told the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay that their candidate could bring notes.
“I would like to issue an apology in behalf of TV5. There has been a serious miscommunication, the miscommunication being that the Comelec rules have initially stated at the outset that there should be no notes or documents to be brought by the candidates during the debate,” Cruz-Valdes said during an off-air segment before the actual debate held at the University of the Philippines Cebu.
READ: Valdes uninformed of Comelec rule, agrees to Binay bringing notes
Cruz-Valdes said she was not informed about the rule.
“And about four or five days before the debate today, Congressman Toby called me up to ask whether the VP could bring notes. And in my earnest desire to be sure that all of the candidates will be present, and not thinking there was such a rule, I did say, I think so, of course,” she explained.
Cruz-Valdes said she later checked and “was told there was no rule.”
READ: Row over rules delays second presidential debate
“And now (Comelec) chairman Andy said that this was a rule from the get go. Because of this, all the other candidates have expressed their very strong protest against the violation of this rule,” she said.
The Binay camp was allowed to explain after. The other candidates, especially former secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said the Comelec rules should be followed. IDL
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