Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas campaign manager Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco has defended senatorial candidates' individual preference on whether or not they should join debates ahead of the May 13 polls.

Tiangco, in a recent interview, said it all boils down to what the candidates think would help them win.

Asked if he believes "senatoriables" should join debates, Tiangco said "Yes, if they want to. Kasi iba-iba ang style ng kampanya eh, di ba? (Because there are different styles to campaign, right?)"

Tiangco says it's a matter of preference on how they want the people or the voters to know more about them.

"Ang importante kasi dyan, huwag naman natin isipin na yung mga ayaw pumunta sa debate ay umiiwas lang (The important thing here is, we should not think that those who don't want to join debates are actually avoiding them)," the congressman said.

In Philippine elections, the candidates who don't fare well in surveys are usually the ones who challenge those who appear to be in the winners' circle.

Recent survey results showed that out of the 12 Alyansa senatorial hopefuls, eight to 10 of them are in contention to win a Senate seat.

"Ang resources dito ay panahon, 90 days yan. Ikaw kandidato, ang iisipin mo, saan ang pinakamabuting gamit ko sa oras ko (The resources here is time, that's 90 days. If you're a candidate, you'll think of how you can maximize your time)," Tiangco said.

He said that only 21 sorties were arranged by Alyansa as a group for the 90-day campaign period so that they can have the flexibility to do other things, like solo campaigning.

Tiangco acknowledged that some candidates may have "accepted the reality that they're not good in debates".

"Hindi ibig sabihin na hindi magiling na mambabatas (That doesn't mean they're not good lawmakers)," he noted.

Tiangco says there are simply weak debaters out there who happen to be good candidates.