THE image of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) suffered greatly with the scandal created by the failure of debate event supplier Impact Hub Manila to pay P14 million of its P20.5-million obligation to the debate venue, the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.
The original town hall debates for presidential and vice presidential candidates were scheduled for April 30 and May 1, respectively. This was put on held, then canceled by the Commission, upon learning that Comelec spokesman James Jimenez and Education and Information Department chief Frances Arabe had asked Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan to approve and release a check for P15 million to cover the liabilities of Impact Hub Manila to the venue.
An enraged Commissioner Rey Bulay, a former city prosecutor of Manila, and a perplexed Commissioner George Garcia, immediately put their crisis management skills to use by saving the Comelec from a major disaster, unfortunately when the elections are nearing.
‘Imagine facing the people on national TV and talking about how to fight graft and corruption when in fact, the very platform that you are asked to use reeks of corruption?
Bulay initiated an internal investigation of the matter and recommended that Jimenez and Arabe be disallowed to perform media-related tasks during the pendency of his investigation.
Garcia, meanwhile, salvaged the situation by scrapping the town hall debates and adopting in its stead a series of one-on-one interviews with the candidates slated to air from May 2 to 6 in partnership with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) — the same association of TV and radio networks that rejected an earlier Jimenez offer to air the debates simply because they would have to solicit airtime commercials just like an ordinary noontime show.
As of this writing, only six presidential bets and four VP candidates accepted the poll body’s invitation to be interviewed. The four presidential candidates who have been leading in the nationwide surveys have declined to participate.
Now, there wouldn’t be hurling of insults and claims of cowardice on candidates rejecting to participate in the Comelec debates — they just learned their lesson and would not want to be part of any more questionable activities, if not scams. Imagine facing the people on national TV and talking about how to fight graft and corruption when in fact, the very platform that you are asked to use reeks of corruption? Commissioner Bulay should be commended and encouraged in his effort to investigate, file charges and punish all those in the Comelec who are behind this embarrassing ruse.
These people, together with Smartmatic, are paid well and incentivized to give us the best public service in terms of a clean, honest and credible election. They have only themselves to blame if indeed public funds are squandered and some private pockets have been lined.
