Comelec to organize ‘hybrid debates’ for Eleksyon 2022 presidential, vice presidential candidates

The Commission on Elections announced Thursday that it will organize “hybrid debates” which will consist of one primary and three presidential debates, as well as three vice presidential debates for Eleksyon 2022.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the poll body will be the one to organize the whole debates which may start with the presidential debates as early as January next year.

“We are looking at one primarily debate, three presidential debates, and three vice presidential debates. It will be in hybrid, the candidates will be in person, they will be debating face-to-face but the audience will be virtual,” Jimenez said at a press conference.

Asked who will be present in the one primary debate, Jimenez said: “That’s the one probably early of the year sort of a teaser for the debates just for president...probably January.”

“Again all of these are still in the planning stage but yes January is probably gonna be presidential,” he added.

Jimenez said private entities may hold the senatorial debates as he expressed his support for it.

“I don’t think we can organize debates for the Senate but I think there are a lot of private efforts to organize senatorial debates and we are very eager to support those,” he said.

He said the commission is set to release guidelines on how the debates would be safely conducted to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections.

House resolution

Representatives Alan Peter Cayetano, Maria Laarni Cayetano, LRay Villafuerte, Raneo Abu, Dan Fernandez, Michael Defensor, and Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, meanwhile, filed a resolution urging the Comelec to start holding debates before the end of 2021 among the presidential, vice presidential, and senatorial aspirants.

“Debates will further serve as basis for accountability of elected officials, and allow for a safer way of information dissemination during this pandemic since television, radio broadcasting, as well as the internet, will be maximized to provide as much relevant information to the voters as possible,” House Resolution 2346 stated.

Lawmakers urged the poll body to hold monthly debates beginning in November or December 2021 until April 2022, “where all candidates for president shall be invited to participate in a total of at least five debates.”

The Comelec may also hold weekly debates or a total of at least 15 debates, where two presidential candidates shall be invited to participate in each debate.

The Comelec earlier said that it has received 91 petitions for the cancellation of certificates of candidacy (COCs) of current aspirants for the national posts in Eleksyon 2022.

Asked for the full list of the 91 petitions filed for the cancellation of the COCs in the national post, Jimenez said, “I will clear it with the clerk of the commission if it’s shareable, I’ll share it.”

At the separate Laging Handa briefing, Comelec Education and Information Department director Elaiza Sabile-David said the poll body may have 205 aspirants for national posts as nuisance candidates.

The final list of official candidates will be issued in December.

The 2022 general elections will be held on May 9. — with Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News