Fireworks in Cebu debate as presidential bets tangle on, off camera

Verbal fireworks flew during the second leg of the PiliPinas Debates 2016 on Sunday in Cebu as four candidates in attendance hurled tirades at each other, both on and off camera.

The debate, held at University of the Philippines-Cebu campus, suffered an almost two-hour delay when a miscommunication happened regarding debate rules.

The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay had insisted on bringing documents into the stage, after apparently being allowed by TV5 News and Public Affairs head Luchi Cruz-Valdes, contrary to Commission on Elections rules.

The three other candidates – Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Grace Poe, and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas – however, opposed Binay's move.

As behind-the-scenes footage later aired by TV5 showed, the parties, including Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista, failed to reach an agreement.

Valdes later apologized to Binay's camp, saying: "Ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin publicly kay Mr. VP kasi kami po ang nagbigay pahintulot sa kanila na magdala ng notes. Iyan din po ang dahilan kung bakit naantala ang pagsisimula ng debate na ito."

But as the debate went on air, Binay was seen still with his documents at the podium.

The behind-the-scenes drama, as it turned out, was a foreboding of what was to happen during the debate proper.

It was not too long after the debate had started when the first blows were thrown by the candidates at each other. Asked about the cases against his son and what he would do about it if he becomes president, Vice President Jejomar Binay said he would respect a court conviction.

"Kaya lang ang bintang, hindi ho iyon ang conviction... Sa Diyos at sa tao, sasabihin ko sa iyo, walang kasalanan ang anak ko. Pero anuman ang maging desisyon, susundin natin. We must be a government with a rule of law," said Binay.

But Poe used Binay's statement against him. "Rule of law? Pero mayroon din tayong rules ngayon na dapat sinunod," Poe said. 

Poe also took a swipe at Binay for the latter's insistence on skipping Senate hearings on allegations of irregularities committed by him and his family while he was Makati mayor.

"Importante sana na nakadalo siya sa Senado upang mag-eksplika ng kanyang punto, kung wala namang itinatago," said Poe.

In response, Binay shifted the topic to Poe's citizenship. Poe, a foundling who became a naturalized US citizen in 2001 only to renounce it in 2011, earlier  got the nod from the Supreme Court to run for the presidency.

"Hindi ka tunay na Pilipino... Ang issue, ikaw ba ay tunay na Pilipino? Ikinahiya mo nga... iyong oath of allegiance, nandoon ang 'I abjure... ikinahihiya ko ang pinanggalingan ko,'" said Binay.

But Poe responded: "Nandito ka nga nakatira sa bansa pero nangulimbat ka ng pera."

Poe vs. Roxas

Poe turned her sights on Roxas when she criticized the administration for being selective when it comes to prosecuting law offenders. "Napapansin ko kung hindi ka kaalyado, may kaso ka. Kung ikaw ay kaalayado, may project ka. Parang hindi naman tama iyon," she said.

Roxas insisted party alliance is not a factor in the government's prosecution of cases, even as Binay could be heard breaking into laughter. Poe butted in and cited the Department of Transportation and Communications, whose head Secretary Emilio Abaya has been spared from charges over alleged irregularities in the Metro Rail Transit Line 3.

"Ang mga kinakasuhan lang ng LP ay yung mga latak nilang miyembro. Pero ang mga miyembro nilang importante sa kanila, katulad ni Sec. Jun Abaya... ay nandiyan pa rin at hindi man lang kinasuhan ng Ombudsman," she said.

Roxas responded by pointing out that no cases came out of a Senate hearing that Poe headed on the MRT mess. In response, Poe said she filed a recommendation with the Ombudsman, but Roxas said, "Ano ang nangyari ngayon [doon sa recommendation]?"

Roxas vs. Duterte

But perhaps, no duel was more exciting than that between Duterte and Roxas, who had been trading barbs throughout the campaign. The heated argument started when Roxas criticized the Davao City mayor for failing to stop criminality in "drug-infested" villages in his jurisdiction.

The Davao mayor responded: "The secretary has forgotten that he was the DILG secretary. He controls the police. He has administrative control over everybody. Kaming mga mayor we only give guidance to the police."

"Nakalimutan siguro ni Mayor ang Local Government Code, kung saan ang mayor po ang chief executive ng isang lugar," Roxas replied.

Duterte then stressed how the government has failed to stop illegal drug operations inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, where numerous raids have yielded illegal items and contraband.

"Alam mo wala kang ginawa. And you are claiming credit that is not yours. Ang mahirap sa iyo Mar, you are a pretentious leader," Duterte declared. Roxas denied the tag, saying the fact arrests were made at the national penitentiary supports the government's drive against illegal drugs.

Fraud, weak leader

But Duterte continued with his tirade against Roxas, even reviving the issue on Roxas' controversial educational background, particularly on his degree at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

"You are a fraud. You're pretentious. Pati edukasyon mo, sinabi mo Wharton eh di ka pala taga-Wharton," he said.

Roxas blasted Duterte for resorting to "name-calling," but went on to describe Duterte's "brand of Duterte justice."

"Hindi ko na problema na hindi maunawaan ni Mayor Duterte kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng pagiging graduate ng Wharton. Wharton na mismo ang nagsabing graduate ako doon sa kanila," he said.

"Kung ayaw maniwala, iyan ang brand ng Duterte justice, kung ano ang nasa isip niya kahit hindi totoo, iyan ang paniniwalaan," Roxas added.

Duterte claimed their camp asked Wharton about the issue, and the latter reportedly said it would be "inappropriate" for Roxas to claim he was a Wharton graduate with a Master degree in business administration.

Binay joined the conversation through sarcasm. "Hindi, umattend ata siya ng seminar [sa Wharton]," he said, eliciting laughter from the crowd.

Roxas responded: "Ito namang si Vice President Binay, sumali pa, sumawsaw pa."

Yolanda response

The argument further escalated when the issues of the Yolanda tragedy and the Zamboanga siege, both in 2013, were brought up.

Roxas recalled how he braved the aftermath of Yolanda and the Zamboanga siege, but Duterte contested Roxas' statement.

"I was there in Yolanda. Day 2. This guy cannot handle stress. He's a weak leader," said the Davao mayor.

Roxas insisted he was in Leyte, meeting with officials both from the local and national government. "I was a central player in those meeting. Ikaw ang nawala, dumating ka doon, ilang oras nagpa-photo op, umalis. Iyang ang uri ng liderato mo," said Roxas.

Duterte insisted he saw how "lost" Roxas was the entire time. — RSJ/JST, GMA News