PPCRV urges Eleksyon 2022 candidates to join debates, interviews

The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) on Wednesday asked all the aspirants for the May 9 polls to join debates and interviews if they have nothing to hide from voters.

During a Laging Handa briefing, PPCRV chairman emeritus Ambassador Henrietta de Villa said such activities would allow the public to hear out the aspirants’ platforms and compare them with one another.

“Lumahok kayo kasi anong tinatago ninyo kung hindi kayo lalahok? May tinatago ba kayo? May kinakatakot ba kayo? Eh kung wala, kung puro katotohanan ‘yung inyong inaalok at inaalay sa bayan, e di walang problema kung sumali kayo,” she said.

(Participate in debates and interviews if you have nothing to hide. Are you hiding something? Are you scared of anything? If not, if what you are offering to the people is purely the truth, then there is no problem if you join.)

Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez earlier said the law does not require candidates' participation in public debates, and that the poll body cannot oblige the candidates to show up.

However, Jimenez also said the decision of certain aspirants to skip various pre-election forums may be a "red flag" for voters.

Moreover, De Villa reminded the voters to make a cheat sheet or a list of candidates whom they will vote for on May 9 so that their voting will be quick.

She also urged them to take time to know the candidates well before voting for them.

“Pag-isipan ninyo na at sa pagproseso ng inyong kandidatong pipiliing iboto, please magkaroon kayo ng panahon na makinig. Ngayon, kampanya na eh, open campaigning na. Pakinggan ninyo as much as possible, makinig kayo sa sinasabi ng mga kandidato sa mga interviews, sa mga debate, sa mga rallies, pakinggan ninyo kung ano ang kanilang inaaalok ‘pag sila ay nahalal,” she said.

(Start thinking about it now and in the process of choosing a candidate to vote for, please take the time to listen to their platforms during the campaign period. Listen as much as possible to what the candidates say in interviews, debates, rallies, and know what they have to offer when they are elected.)

More than that, De Villa said the voters should also try to determine the real attitude and character of the candidates, and veer away from those who are vote buying.

She also emphasized now that the campaign period has started, the PPCRV is seriously following its mandate as an accredited citizen’s arm.

“Ang una ay magbigay ng voter’s education sa lahat, lalo na doon sa mga lugar na malalayo na hindi naaabot ng Comelec. Pangalawa, ‘yung mag-poll watch, magbantay sa araw ng halalan sa bawat cluster precinct ng bansa. Pangatlo, mag-conduct ng unofficial parallel count,” she explained.

(First is to provide voter’s education to everyone, especially in far-flung areas. Second, to watch the polls on election day in every cluster precinct in the country. Third, is to conduct an unofficial parallel count.)

The campaign period for Eleksyon 2022 candidates running for national positions officially started Tuesday, February 8, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.—AOL, GMA News