Comelec to give debate topics to candidates

On Monday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that it would notify presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the general issues that would be discussed in a March debate.

“We will give the candidates a general idea of what the topics to be discussed are, but what we will not give them are specific questions,” James Jimenez, Comelec spokesperson, said in a press briefing.

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“We would like the debates to be fair, and every candidate will have the opportunity to do whatever research they have to do in preparation for the debate because they will be given the general area around which the questions will revolve,” he added.

The Comelec official clarified: “I’d like to make it clear, this is not unusual, and this is not unfair. In any debate, even in the Pilipinas debates in 2016, we informed the campaigns about the general topics to be discussed… This is an ‘everything under the sun whatever we want to ask’ [debate]. It’s not like that.”

According to Jimenez, the Comelec would next meet with the campaign teams to tell them of the general questions to be answered.

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The Comelec and the candidates would sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) addressing debate guidelines.

“So it will be a very formal affair,” he said.

Comelec to give debate topics to candidates

The press conference was placed after the Comelec announced that all presidential contenders, including former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., will attend the March 19 debate.

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However, Marcos’ spokesman, Vic Rodriguez, stated that his candidate’s attendance would only be confirmed: “if his tight campaign schedules permit.”

Marcos had previously turned down invitations to official interviews and debates when other contenders were present, including GMA’s presidential discussions and CNN Philippines’ presidential debates.

BBM has directed his campaign manager, Benjamin Abalos Jr., to request that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and other presidential  address the debate format first before the event.

Abalos, in a letter to Comelec, said it would be “more proper and prudent if all presidential  will be given an opportunity to discuss before the Commission among themselves the format, which will include the issues to be discussed, the time allotment for each, the right to respond and rebut his/her arguments, who will be the moderator, among others.”

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