No more time for debate – Comelec

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has denied the request of the Opposition for the poll body to organize a debate between Otso Diretso and "Hugpong ng Pagbabago" senatorial candidates.

In a statement, Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said granting the request would tantamount to giving preferential treatment to some senatorial candidates or slates.

It would also be practically impossible, logistically, to conduct meaningful debates involving all 62 candidates, without risking allegations of preferential treatment, Jimenez added.

"There are considerable time constraints, with only about two months remaining," he said.

In their letter to the poll body,

the opposition cited the statement of HP founding chair Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio "to find a third party organizer for the debate."

"Hence, this request considering the independence and impartiality of the Comelec in the conduct of elections,” Otso Diretso said.

The Otso Diretso bets said they also believe that a debate would benefit the voting public.

Reelectionist Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III backed the decision of the Comelec.

Pimentel believed it would be meaningless for Comelec to facilitate a "oneon-one" debate between administration and opposition bets while leaving out other senatorial aspirants.

"I have stated this before, this is a 12-winner race not a one-on-one, hence the value of a debate which does not involve all the 62 candidates is not clear," Pimentel told the Manila Bulletin when sought for his comment.

"Also the Comelec is the impartial referee of this election hence it cannot organize something and spend public funds on it which does not involve all the senatorial candidates," he added. (With a report from Vanne Elaine P. Terrazola)