Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said he accepts a plan of the Commission of Elections (Comelec) to hold an online debate among presidential candidates for the My 2022 national elections
‘’It is fine with me. Ok with me ... as long as live mga candidates (the candidates are live),’’ Sotto replied to a query from Senate reporters on a Comelec plan to stage a hybrid debate among presidential candidates.
Sotto, chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), said he would object to candidates appearing virtually because the debate would be useless.
He is seeking the vice presidency in tandem with Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, Partido Reporma chairman and standard bearer.
Should the candidates appear virtually during such debates, the answers would be provided by their staff and the debate points, Sotto pointed out.
‘’The people (will) not witness the true mettle of the candidates!’’ he added.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the Commission is working on the online debates.
“Unfortunately, we would probably not be allowing a live audience,” he added.
The poll official, however, assured that they would make sure that the debates are available and accessible to everyone.