Hugpong bets ready to debate with Otso but rules must first be agreed on
Published Feb 26, 2019 08:10 pm
By Ben Rosario and Minka Klaudia Tiangc
Administration senatorial bets are keen on facing their opposition foes in public debate but only if there are specific agreement and ground rules that will govern the public discourse of issues.
Hugpong ng Pagbabago (MANILA BULLETIN)
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, campaign manager of Senate bets endorsed by Hugpong ng Pagbabago, denied claims that because of cold feet her candidates did not show up at Plaza Miranda to face Otso Diretso candidates in a debate.
She said opposition candidates should be "professional" with their debate challenge.
Duterte reiterated that the Hugpong ng Pagbabago bets are willing to debate with candidates from opposition slate Otso Diretso if they will be given a formal invitation.
"They should write all the political parties involved, this will be the venue, the time, the rules of the debate," the Presidential daughter said in Filipino during the administration candidates' campaign caravan in Malabon City on Tuesday.
"If they will be challenging them to a debate, there should be an agreement, just like how professionals do it," she added.
Duterte-Carpio’s group had a full schedule attending rallies in Meycauayan and Valenzuela City as Otso Diretso bets Romulo Macalintal, Erin Tanada, Gary Alejano, Florin Hilbay and Ciel Diokno waited at Plaza Miranda for the debate.
In reaction, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan senatorial bet Larry Gadon chided the opposition candidates for resorting to “cheap propaganda” to win votes.
Like Duterte, Gadon said the debate challenge was never finalized by any non-Otso Diretso candidate for senator.
“Pero kahit sakali may imbitasyon hindi ako payag dyan sa Plaza Miranda kasi hahakutan lang nila ito ng bayarang hakot na mga komonista,” said Gadon. (But even if there was an invitation I will not go to Plaza Miranda because it will be attended by paid communist crowd.”
Mayor Duterte-Carpio said they are willing to face the debate challenge “but only if there’s an agreement about the rules, venue” and others.
“Hindi pwedeng unilateral mag decide about everything. There should be an organizer and there should be an agreement kung ano ang mangyayari,” she told reporters during a campaign sortie in Malabon City yesterday.
Duterte also said that she lets the Hugpong ng Pagbabago candidates decide for themselves if they want to participate in debates or not.
"I know that some of the candidates in our slate are very participative in debates and forums," she said. "It's a personal choice."
The debate controversy has permeated the senatorial campaign period as two of the country’s leading networks launched their respective debate shows.
All eight Otso-Diretso candidates have already showed up to discuss national issues during the first two stages of a three-chapter ABS-CBN Senatorial Debate.
Gadon appeared in the first Sunday of the television program covered in full by Manila Bulletin, ABS CBN’s media partner for the 2019 mid-term elections.
Among the Hugpong and PDP-Laban bets, only former presidential political affairs adviser Francis Tolentino and broadcast journalist Jiggy Manicad appeared in the event.
Among the no-shows are re-eelctionist Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and JV Ejercito, Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, former Sen. Serge Osmena, retired PNP chief Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa and former Secretary Rafael Alunan.
#MatalinongBoto2019
Hugpong ng Pagbabago (MANILA BULLETIN)
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, campaign manager of Senate bets endorsed by Hugpong ng Pagbabago, denied claims that because of cold feet her candidates did not show up at Plaza Miranda to face Otso Diretso candidates in a debate.
She said opposition candidates should be "professional" with their debate challenge.
Duterte reiterated that the Hugpong ng Pagbabago bets are willing to debate with candidates from opposition slate Otso Diretso if they will be given a formal invitation.
"They should write all the political parties involved, this will be the venue, the time, the rules of the debate," the Presidential daughter said in Filipino during the administration candidates' campaign caravan in Malabon City on Tuesday.
"If they will be challenging them to a debate, there should be an agreement, just like how professionals do it," she added.
Duterte-Carpio’s group had a full schedule attending rallies in Meycauayan and Valenzuela City as Otso Diretso bets Romulo Macalintal, Erin Tanada, Gary Alejano, Florin Hilbay and Ciel Diokno waited at Plaza Miranda for the debate.
In reaction, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan senatorial bet Larry Gadon chided the opposition candidates for resorting to “cheap propaganda” to win votes.
Like Duterte, Gadon said the debate challenge was never finalized by any non-Otso Diretso candidate for senator.
“Pero kahit sakali may imbitasyon hindi ako payag dyan sa Plaza Miranda kasi hahakutan lang nila ito ng bayarang hakot na mga komonista,” said Gadon. (But even if there was an invitation I will not go to Plaza Miranda because it will be attended by paid communist crowd.”
Mayor Duterte-Carpio said they are willing to face the debate challenge “but only if there’s an agreement about the rules, venue” and others.
“Hindi pwedeng unilateral mag decide about everything. There should be an organizer and there should be an agreement kung ano ang mangyayari,” she told reporters during a campaign sortie in Malabon City yesterday.
Duterte also said that she lets the Hugpong ng Pagbabago candidates decide for themselves if they want to participate in debates or not.
"I know that some of the candidates in our slate are very participative in debates and forums," she said. "It's a personal choice."
The debate controversy has permeated the senatorial campaign period as two of the country’s leading networks launched their respective debate shows.
All eight Otso-Diretso candidates have already showed up to discuss national issues during the first two stages of a three-chapter ABS-CBN Senatorial Debate.
Gadon appeared in the first Sunday of the television program covered in full by Manila Bulletin, ABS CBN’s media partner for the 2019 mid-term elections.
Among the Hugpong and PDP-Laban bets, only former presidential political affairs adviser Francis Tolentino and broadcast journalist Jiggy Manicad appeared in the event.
Among the no-shows are re-eelctionist Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and JV Ejercito, Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, former Sen. Serge Osmena, retired PNP chief Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa and former Secretary Rafael Alunan.
#MatalinongBoto2019