Poll watchdog group Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) has called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to conduct debates between the proponents and the oppositors regarding the proposed division of Palawan.

The group issued the call less than two weeks before the March 13 Palawan plebiscite.

In a statement released on March 2, Lente said the Comelec should conduct the debates through the four major local radio stations in the province to ensure that more Palaweños have access to vital information that they can use when they troop to the schools to vote on March 13.

"Based on our observations and discussions with numerous stakeholders, it was found that the information about the advantages and disadvantages of dividing Palawan remains extremely limited," the group said.

Lente said the inaccessibility of information of the Palaweños was due to the limited face-to-face interactions; no local television channel is focused on the plebiscite information campaign; weak and limited internet connection due to geographical location and/or logistics which have placed some voters at a clear disadvantage; and limited number of audiences during pulong-pulong activities conducted by local Comelec field offices.

"Improved access for the Palaweño voters to sufficient and timely information on the proposed division of Palawan and the conduct of the plebiscite ensures transparency – a hallmark of genuine electoral exercise," said Lente.

"The right to seek, receive and impart information concerns the right of the voters to gain and share knowledge and opinions, and this is necessary to form their will regarding the electoral competitors, whether proponents or oppositors," the group added.