The Philippine Star

Palace claims debates only for publicity

- By ALEXIS ROMERO – With Roel Pareño, Paolo Romero, Helen Flores

Senatorial candidates of the opposition slate Otso Diretso are challengin­g administra­tion bets to a debate to gain publicity, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidenti­al spokesman Salvador Panelo said administra­tion candidates did not accept the challenge because they did not want to give their opponents media mileage.

“I can understand that those from the other side, they want to debate because it would give them publicity. They (administra­tion candidates) did not want to give their rivals publicity,” Panelo said in a radio interview.

“That’s how it is in the Philippine­s. Survival of the fittest,” he added.

Otso Diretso bets invited their rivals from the administra­tion-backed slate Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) to a public debate at Plaza Miranda that was supposed to be held last Feb. 25.

HNP bets did not show up because there was no agreement about the rules and venue, according to presidenti­al daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Her remark prompted Otso Diretso bets to ask the Commission on Elections to organize a debate.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines