Sotto to Comelec: Divide prexy, VP bets into 2 groups for more time to debate on platforms

Vice presidential candidate and Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday suggested to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to divide the candidates into two groups for the presidential and vice presidential debates to provide more time for aspirants to debate and expound their platforms.

“Ang suggestion ko sa Comelec, hatiin. Masyadong maraming kandidato e… Like for example, sa nine nila, mag draw sila… ‘yung isang debate lima, 'yung isang schedule ‘yung apat… So sa vice president ganon din,” he said in a chance interview with reporters in Lucena City, Quezon.

(My suggestion to the Comelec is to divide the candidates into batches because there are a lot of candidates. For example, they could draw lots. The first five could take the first schedule then the rest could take the next batch. Same goes to the vice presidential candidates.)

“Para naririnig ninyo talaga, mayroon talagang time na mag-iisplika sila ng plataporma nila, programa nila. Do’n mo makikita kung may magandang gagawin para sa bansa ang mga kandidato at hindi lang basta sigaw lang nang sigaw,” he added.

(This will help the electorate hear our platforms. This would also give more time to explain the platforms of the candidates. This is where you can evaluate if they really have programs that would make the country better and they are not just all screams.)

For his part, Lacson also admitted that the one minute and 30 seconds is not enough to lay down all their platforms.

“Actually, ang daming hindi mga naitanong na pinaghandaan ko. Water crisis, power crisis… Kung ‘yun sana ay naitalakay pa alam ng mga kababayan natin kung ano ang tayo ng mga kandidato, especially national office ang tinatakbo, ano ang mga plano sana na pwede ilatag,” he said.

(There are a lot of questions that I have prepared for which were not asked during the debates like the water crisis and power crisis. If those were discussed, our countrymen will know what are the positions of the candidates on these issues, especially that we are running for a national office.)

GMA News Online has sought Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez’s comment on the matter, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

On the other hand, Sotto belied the criticisms of fellow vice presidential candidate Walden Bello, who accused him of “rewriting history,” being an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, and not protecting detained Senator Leila de Lima.

“Puro mali ang impormasyon ni ex-congressman. Mali ‘yong sinabi niya. Never akong nagsinungaling (The information of the ex-congressman are all false. I never lied),” Sotto said.

“‘Di ko alam kung ano ibig sabihin niya ng (I don't know what he meant by calling me an) ally but in the Senate, we criticize when necessary,” he added.

Sotto cited the Senate’s investigation into the alleged anomalies in the Bureau of Customs, the New Bilibid Prison, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

“We passed committee reports na 'ika nga e nakabangga sa Palasyo. So mali, mali ang nasa isip nila. Parang strategy na lang ‘yon para mapansin,” he went on.

(We passed committee reports which are opposed to the stand of the Palace. So his claims are wrong. It is just his strategy so he could get attention.)

Lacson and Sotto both attended the CNN Philippines presidential and vice presidential debates over the weekend.

Furthermore, Lacson said he favors the shift of the National Capital Region to Alert Level 1 or the loosest quarantine classification in the country as he believes that it is time to allow the economy to recover.

“As long as it is science-based, ‘yung kanilang desisyon, walang problema kasi it’s about time na pagbigyan naman natin ang economy kasi pagka lockdown nang lockdown, ang sabi nga ng NEDA P11 billion per week ang nawawala…So, importante talaga makaahon yung ating economy,” he said.

(As long as their decision is science-based, we have no problem with that because it’s about time for our economy to recover. According to the [National Economic Development Authority], we are losing P11 billion per week if we continue with the lockdown. So, it is important for the economy to recover.)

The Lacson and Sotto tandem on Monday visited Lucena City, Quezon to meet various sectors and local government officials.

They are also scheduled to hold a caravan in Sariaya, Candelaria, and Tiaong.

Based on Commission on Elections’ data, there are 1.424 million registered voters in Quezon.

Of the said number, 183,412 are from Lucena, 96,447 from Sariaya, 81,374 from Candelaria, and 64,797 from Tiaong.—AOL, GMA News