Poe opts for public dialogue over debate
Published Feb 27, 2019 08:29 pm
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
Re-electionist Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday said she would rather hold public dialogues than debate with her fellow candidates in the senatorial race.
Senator Grace Poe (ROY DOMINGO / MANILA BULLETIN)
She stated this in response to the challenge of senatorial bets from the opposition “Otso Diretso” to have a debate with administration candidates before the mid-term polls on May 13.
Despite having attended televised debates during her bid for presidency in the 2016 national elections, the independent candidate said she chooses to barnstorm provinces to “directly” answer questions from the people and discuss her platforms.
“Ako naman, kung may tanong kayo, diretso naman ninyo akong natatanong (If you have questions, you can directly ask me),” she said in an interview during her visit in a public market in Iba, Zambales, Wednesday as part of her campaign.
“In 2016, I had participated in several debates. Maybe this time, it would also be nice to go around the country to enable our countrymen to directly ask me about my stand on certain issues. In debates, only a few people are able to ask questions, but in dialogues people can ask me directly, even in universities, questions can be directed to me,” she added.
Like Poe, former senator Lito Lapid, who os seeking a return in Senate, shunned election debates, saying these are not necessary.
“Hindi na. Dalawang beses na akong naging senador, pero ‘di ako sumasali sa mga debate. Alam mo naman palaging tinitira sa akin ang edukasyon (No need for debates. I have been elected senator twice but I did not join debates before. The criticisms against me is always my education),” Lapid said when asked for his opinion.
Poe and Lapid are not among the senatorial candidates endorsed by the Duterte administration but are backed by the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).
Lapid is a member of the NPC, while Poe is an honorary member.
Poe, a consistent survey frontrunner, said she will take Lapid in her campaign sorties, like her fellow re-electionists.
Lapid, for his part, said he is willing to endorse and take Poe to his bailiwick Pampanga, one of the vote-rich provinces in the country. He cited his friendship with Poe's late father, actor Fernando Poe Jr.
Senator Grace Poe (ROY DOMINGO / MANILA BULLETIN)
She stated this in response to the challenge of senatorial bets from the opposition “Otso Diretso” to have a debate with administration candidates before the mid-term polls on May 13.
Despite having attended televised debates during her bid for presidency in the 2016 national elections, the independent candidate said she chooses to barnstorm provinces to “directly” answer questions from the people and discuss her platforms.
“Ako naman, kung may tanong kayo, diretso naman ninyo akong natatanong (If you have questions, you can directly ask me),” she said in an interview during her visit in a public market in Iba, Zambales, Wednesday as part of her campaign.
“In 2016, I had participated in several debates. Maybe this time, it would also be nice to go around the country to enable our countrymen to directly ask me about my stand on certain issues. In debates, only a few people are able to ask questions, but in dialogues people can ask me directly, even in universities, questions can be directed to me,” she added.
Like Poe, former senator Lito Lapid, who os seeking a return in Senate, shunned election debates, saying these are not necessary.
“Hindi na. Dalawang beses na akong naging senador, pero ‘di ako sumasali sa mga debate. Alam mo naman palaging tinitira sa akin ang edukasyon (No need for debates. I have been elected senator twice but I did not join debates before. The criticisms against me is always my education),” Lapid said when asked for his opinion.
Poe and Lapid are not among the senatorial candidates endorsed by the Duterte administration but are backed by the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).
Lapid is a member of the NPC, while Poe is an honorary member.
Poe, a consistent survey frontrunner, said she will take Lapid in her campaign sorties, like her fellow re-electionists.
Lapid, for his part, said he is willing to endorse and take Poe to his bailiwick Pampanga, one of the vote-rich provinces in the country. He cited his friendship with Poe's late father, actor Fernando Poe Jr.