Comelec thumbs down Otso Diretso's request to facilitate debate vs. HNP

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday denied the request of opposition Senate slate Otso Diretso to organize a debate among senatorial candidates.

In a message to GMA News, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that "granting Otso Diretso’s request would be tantamount to giving preferential treatment to some senatorial candidates or slates."

"It would be practically impossible, logistically, to conduct meaningful debates involving all 62 candidates, without risking allegations of preferential treatment," he said.

Jimenez also cited time constraints, saying there are only about two months left for the Comelec to prepare for the May 13 midterm elections.

Otso Diretso, in a letter to Comelec chair Sheriff Abas last week, asked the poll body to facilitate a public debate between their candidates and those of the administration-backed Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).

The opposition candidates filed the letter after HNP campaign manager, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, preferred to have a third party to organize the debate.

The opposition slate specifically wants to have a face-off for the May 13 midterm polls against the 13 HNP senatorial candidates.

The Otso Diretso candidates earlier challenged HNP candidates to a debate at Plaza Miranda, but no HNP candidate showed up.

'Disservice to the Filipino people'

Otso Diretso's members, meanwhile, lamented the poll body's decision, with former Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano calling it "a disservice to the Filipino people."

"The failure of the Comelec to provide a venue for voters to hear the platform and stand on issues of the candidates on important policies is a disservice to the Filipino people," he said.

"Ang desisyong ito ay talaga namang pabor sa mga umiiwas sa makabuluhang debate. Congratulations, you were saved by the bell," Alejano added, addressing HNP members.

Other members — election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, Senator Bam Aquino and former Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada — issued statements echoing Alejano.

"The debate could have been an opportunity for Comelec to exercise one of its primary functions as guardian of the people’s right of suffrage to educate our electorate to vote wisely, to gauge the qualifications of the candidates, and not to vote on mere popularity but to examine the character positions of the candidates on various issues,” Macalintal said.

"Sa totoo lang po, hindi naman po pabor sa Otso-Diretso ang pagkakaroon ng debate, pabor po ito sa taumbayan. Magkatali po ang karapatang bumoto at karapatang malaman ang paninindigan ng mga tumatakbo," Aquino, for his part, said.

Tañada said that Comelec is just making excuses.

"Kung ayaw, maraming dahilan. Kung talagang gusto maraming paraan. The Comelec is not doing it's job in helping educate the voters to make informed choices," he said.

Tañada said the Comelec could have asked the media networks to conduct the debate if they don't have the time and the logistics.

"All we need are the guidelines. Instead of helping make the people be more intelligent and educated, the Comelec wants the people to be the opposite," he said. —KBK, GMA News