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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Bayan Muna urges Comelec to punish candidates who skip its debates

Bayan Muna urges Comelec to punish candidates who skip its debates

Published Apr 4, 2022 04:55 pm

The Bayan Muna Party-list has called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to punish presidential and vice presidential candidates who skip debates hosted by the poll body.

Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate (Photo from Bayan Muna)

"As a constitutionally constituted body, we submit that it is empowered to penalize these debate skippers who are openly defying the Comelec's processes. We make this challenge to the Comelec: just penalize them now," said Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate in a press statement on Monday, April 4.

The Comelec has hosted two presidential debates–first on March 19 and then on April 3–and one vice presidential debate–on March 20–as of this writing.

Survey frontrunners and UniTeam presidential-vice presidential tandem of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte have not attended the Comelec hosted debates.

The Marcos-Duterte alliance also skipped previous presidential and vice presidential debates hosted by media entities.

Lito Atizena, running mate to presidential candidate Sen. Manny Pacquiao, also did not attend the Comelec's VP debate due to medical complications.

Zarate further added that his party had been studying a bill which could see harsh penalties imposed on candidates absent during debates, which may even include disqualification.

"In this proposed bill, we may also include as ground for disqualification those aspiring candidates or candidates with final conviction for non-payment of taxes and the non-filing of the mandated income tax return (ITR) and the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN)," Zarate added.

As it stands, the poll body's penalty for debate skippers is barred use from their e-Rally platform.

Meanwhile, the Comelec itself is pushing for Congress to legislate the mandatory participation of national candidates in future debates hosted by the poll body.

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40422 debate 2022 ELECTION carlos zarate Comelec absent Bayan Muna
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