THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday canceled the last presidential and vice-presidential debates on April 30 and May 1, shifting instead to pre-taped panel interviews that will run from May 2 to 6.
“The Commission on Elections, in partnership with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), has announced that the concluding event of the PiliPinas Debates 2022 Series will no longer be Vice-Presidential and Presidential Town Hall Debates,” the poll body said in a statement.
The tandem of Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III, along with Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and his running mate, Willie Ong, are willing to join the one-on-one interview of presidential and vice-presidential aspirants.
Malacanang branded as “unfortunate” the decision of the Comelec decision, although Communication Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar welcomed the coming panel interviews, saying it would be an “opportunity for candidates to explain their intention and agenda to the Filipino electorate.”
Last week, the Comelec announced the postponement of the Vice Presidential and Presidential Town Hall Debates set April 23-24 to April 30 and May 1 after its private partner, Impact Hub Manila, encountered financial issues with the venue of the PiliPinas Debates 2022, Sofitel Philippine Plaza.
This prompted the Comelec to tap the KBP to serve as its new partner for the final two episodes of the debate series.
“As advised by the KBP, the Comelec will now be adopting a Single Candidate/Team-Panel Interview format,” the Comelec said, adding proximity of election day prompted the shift in the platform.
“(This is) in consideration of the inevitable scheduling conflicts as the candidates approach the homestretch of the campaign period,” the Comelec said.
Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said the pre-taped presidential and vice residential forum, set to air from May 2 to 6, will give the candidates the chance to be interviewed as a tandem or as independent candidates.
“All will be entitled to a one-hour panel interview. It is up to the candidates if they want to do it virtually or face-to-face,” Garcia said, adding they have yet to send invitations to the new platform.
Lacson and Sotto said the shift from the debate format to panel interview of candidates is a “very good decision” but added the poll body should have it “taped as live” if it cannot be aired in real time.
“That’s flexibility in our schedule. That is a very feasible suggestion; at least we can adjust and find out where we can squeeze it in in our schedule,” Lacson said during their campaign sortie in Tarlac City. “As long as it’s taped as live, no editing, that’s fine with us.
“There might be instances when you said something good (but) might be omitted and then the not-so-good statements will be aired. So unfair,” he said.
Moreno, the Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer, and Ong also said they are willing to join the one-on-one interview of presidential and vice-presidential aspirants.
Moreno said he has no problem with either format — debate or panel interview — if his schedule permits.
“Anyone applying to the people should not be picky when it comes to how he should be interviewed by his future employer,” Moreno told reporters in an ambush interview in Carles town in Panay island where he and his team are starting their 4-day campaign sortie.
“As long as my schedule allow, why not? But we will see since we still have many commitments, provinces and municipalities that we have yet to visit. But if schedule will allow, yes, I’ll be happy to join,” Moreno added. — With Raymond Africa, Ashzel Hachero and Jocelyn Montemayor
