Comelec mulls leaving 2028 presidential debates to private groups

COTABATO CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is considering leaving the 2028 presidential and other election-related debates to private entities, while taking on a "supervisory" role.

Speaking to the media in Cotabato City, Comelec chairperson George Garcia said that under the Fair Elections Act on lawful election propaganda, private entities must be the ones conducting debates under the supervision of a Comelec commissioner.

"Hindi po talagang kami dapat ang nagsasagawa nito [We’re really not the ones who should be handling debates]," Garcia said Thursday.

"Kami ay guest lamang dun at sinu-supervise namin but hindi kami mismo ang gagastos at walang public fund na gagamitin but we definitely encourage yung mga media entities na magkaroon ng pa debate," he added.

(We are only guests there, and we are only supervising it, but we will not be the ones shouldering the expenses, and no public funds will be used. However, we definitely encourage media entities to organize debates.)

Garcia urged private entities, including media organizations, to conduct the debates to show the public the candidates' stand on the issues.

"Mas maganda po yan para makita ng kababayan natin ang kahandaan ng mga tumatakbo [at] makita natin yung saloobin ng mga kanditao patungkol sa isang issue," Garcia said.

(It would be better to have debates so our fellow Filipinos can see the preparedness of those running for office and understand the candidates’ views on a particular issue.)

Comelec conducted the PiliPinas Debates of the presidential candidates for the May 2022 elections, where nine out of the 10 presidential candidates attended. The absentee was Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who refused to attend most of the debates; his running mate Sara Duterte also stayed away. They both won their races. — BM, GMA News