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Philippines

Comelec wants to make participation in debates mandatory

Philippines

Comelec wants to make participation in debates mandatory

By Leslie Ann Aquino

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) wants participation in debates to be made mandatory in the future.

Comelec/MB

"The position of Comelec is to push to make it mandatory in future polls. How? We will convince Congress to include in the law requiring candidates, local or national, to attend Comelec debates. Not doing so will be a ground for disqualification and election offense," Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said during the Laging Handa public briefing Monday, April 4.

"At present that's our problem because there is no enabling law, he added.

Garcia said a debate is very importanr because it shows the candidates advocacies, platform, among others.

The Comelec already held two presidential and one vice presidential debates for the May 2022 polls.

All the nine presidential candidates attended the two debates except for former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Seven bets for vice president attended the debate except for Sara Duterte and Lito Atienza.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said they cannot force candidates to attend their debates as it is not mandatory.

"Under the law, participation in the debate is not mandatory. We have no choice. We cannot force them to join the debates," he said in an interview in January.

At present, candidates who refuse to participate in the Pilipinas Debates 2022 of the poll body are deprived of the benefits of availing of the Comelec's erally platform.

Related Tags

commissioner george garcia Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos debate Comelec Jr. Commission on Elections

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