The Commission on Elections (Comelec) rescheduled its final vice presidential and presidential debates from April 23 and 24 to April 30 and May 1.
The poll body announced the postponement after its official partner for the PiliPinas Debates, Impact Hub Manila, known as Vote Pilipinas, failed to settle its P14 million dues to Sofitel Manila where the first leg of the debate series was held.
In a press conference, the Comelec revealed that the French hotel chain visited them last Wednesday to ask for assistance. This, after the check payment of Impact Hub Manila to the five-star hotel bounced due to insufficient funds.
“We are just the end user, whatever the agreement between our partner and hotel management. So siyempre ginawa namin lahat ng magagawa namin for the last 2 days para lang they can come up with a good plan so they can set aside their differences.But as of last night and this morning, unfortunately ay mukhang wala pang tamang direksiyon,” Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said.
The Comelec then assured that they did not use a single cent of public funds for the debates, and apologized to the presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the sudden postponement of the town hall debate.
Comelec also assured the public that the debate will push through with the help of Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas and promised to investigate the issue
“Una humihingi kami ng paumanhin sa mga kandidato na sa maikling panahon na allowed mangampaniya hindi pa namin nasabi kaagad na hindi matutuloy yung debates tomorrow and Sunday,” Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay said.
“Naiintindihan po namin na-sched niyo na ‘yan sa inyong kalendaryo sa pangangampaniya at himihingi po kami ng paumanhin. Sinisiguro ko po sa inyo na ‘yung delay na ito ay aming aalamin kung ano po ang aksiyon na magaling ng komisyon,” he added. –Report from Karen Villanda/ML-ag
