Make senatorial bets attend Eleksyon 2025 debates
A youth group on Monday urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to issue a resolution mandating senatorial candidates to attend debates for Eleksyon 2025.
The Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) made the call following the broadcast of “Tanong ng Bayan" by GMA Public Affairs and GMA Integrated News over the weekend, which was attended by 12 out of the 31 invited senatorial bets.
“Comelec has to put its foot down in the name of the Filipino people and steer our elections away from cheap media tricks and patronage politics that they are used to, and instead push candidates to justify to the public why they are running. We cannot have a new politics for this country without strong steps forward,” said SPARK national spokesperson Milo Basuel in a statement to media.
“All candidates are already criss-crossing the country now. They have to issue a resolution obligating candidates to join debates now,” Basuel said.
According to SPARK, debates are platforms for public information on candidates. It can also be an avenue for the senatoriables to campaign before the Filipino electorate.
“The job of senators is to pass, review, and debate the country’s laws. How can the public make informed choices if they don’t see how candidates hold up to debate?” said Basuel.
“People looking for work have to go through an interview process. Candidates refusing to show up to debates is like a job applicant refusing to show up to their interview. Without being forced by the authorities to go, candidates can simply ignore debates,” he said.
GMA News Online has reached out to the Comelec for comment but the agency has yet to respond as of the publishing of this story.
Earlier, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the poll body is willing to issue a resolution that would compel senatorial candidates to attend debates organized by media organizations and other groups to ensure equal exposure for the 66 candidates. —RF, GMA Integrated News