By Myris lee
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) hopes debate participation will be made mandatory in the future.
In the Laging Handa briefing on Monday (April 4), Comelec Commissioner George Erwin Garcia said they will ask the Congress to pass legislation making debates organized by the poll body mandatory for candidates to attend.
According to Garcia, debates are where the electorates can compare and decide the candidate’s intentions, platforms, and advocacies.
“Kukumbinsihin po natin ang ating kagalang-galang na Kongreso na sana po ilagay na po talaga na requirement na a-attend ang lahat ng mga magiging kandidato, lokal man at nasyunal, sa mga ipapatawag na debate ng Commission on Elections,” Garcia said.
“Nakikita kasi natin iyong kahalagahan ng debate eh, na hindi ito basta-basta lamang isang aktibidad. Ang debate, sabi ko nga, eh para itong isang pintuan na magpapakita sa iyo ng kaloob-looban at kaisipan ng isang kandidato,” he added.
All the nine presidential candidates attended the first two debates organized by the poll body except Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Meanwhile, the next Comelec-sponsored presidential and vice-presidential debates are scheduled on April 23 to 24. -gb
