Let a third party organize debate between Hugpong, Otso bets —Sara

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has expressed her preference for a debate among senatorial candidates put together by a third party organizer but added that it would still be up to the administration-backed candidates whether or not to attend.

Sara, the eldest daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, is the campaign manager of the 13 senatorial candidates endorsed by her regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

“Sige. I-identify lang ang third party organizer sa debate and we will ask them who are interested na sumali sa debate," Sara said after a Hugpong campaign sortie in San Juan.

"Hindi ko sila mapipilit kasi engaging in a debate is a personal choice,” she added.

The campaign manager of the opposition Otso Diretso senatorial slate, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, has said that the group was willing discuss rules for dearules for their debate.

“Ikaw ang magdedecide, as a candidate, kung gusto mo sumali o hindi,” Sara added.

Sara said some Hugpong candidates had already participated in debates organized by media organizations and schools.

Others, she said, had been boosting their candidacy not through debates but by communicating their track record in public service.

Hugpong’s bets include: Sen. Sonny Angara, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Sen. Cynthia Villar, Maguindanao Representative Dong Mangudadatu, Taguig representative Pia Cayetano, former Philippine National Police Chief Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, former Presidential adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino, Sen. JV Ejercito, former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Ilocos Gov. Imee Marcos, former journalist Jiggy Manicad, former Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. and former Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go.

The opposition candidates were the first to challenge the administration bets to a debate at the Plaza Miranda on Monday, the 33rd anniversary of the EDSA Revolution.

Sara said challenges to debate  should be done in a formal and professional way.  She said it should not be like asking one to a street fight. —NB, GMA News