By Jel Santos Administration candidates are afraid that they cannot answer the crucial questions of the public that is why they are evading challenges to engage in a debate, Otso Diretso senatorial candidates said Wednesday afternoon. Members of the opposition senatorial slate namely Atty. Romi Macalintal, Florin Hilbay, Samira Gutoc, Sen. Bam Aquino, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, Atty. Chel Diokno and Former Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada
(ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN/ FILE PHOTO) Senatorial bet Atty. Romulo “Romy” Macalintal said that the administration candidates were afraid to face them in a debate because they will not be able to answer the questions of the public. “It is very clear why they do not want to take part in the debate; it is because they will have a hard time answering the question of the public,” he said in Filipino during a press conference in Marikina City. He also added that they were also wary of being asked about their backgrounds as they were afraid that their candidacy will be affected. “Us in the Otso Diretso, we can answer the public, and we can vow to never steal from the government. Can they also do such?” Macalintal said. As such, Macalintal pointed out that it was vital for the public to know the background of candidates for if they would get elected, they will be representing the public for six years. Former solicitor general Atty. Florin “Pilo” Hilbay, who is also running as a senator, agreed with the sentiment of Macalintal and said the administration bets were thinking so little of voters and were using the politics of entertainment just to keep the public from asking about crucial issues happening in the country. “The framework also informs us of how they view voters. So long as people are over entertained, they will be under-informed. So ‘yung politics of entertainment is a way to keep people from becoming interested, and asking critical issued,” he said. When the people get more involved and ask questions about the prices of commodities and economy, Hilbay said administration bets will be put in a very difficult situation. Erin Tanada III, another senatorial candidate of the opposition, slammed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for not setting up the debates, saying that they asked the poll body to only set ground rules, and not to conduct the debate. “They can pass the ground rules to the media. We did not state in our letter that Comelec is the one to hold the debate. We need informed voters,” he said. He, Macalintal, Hilbay reiterated that the duty of Comelec was not purely administrative as it also has to educate voters.