Roco challenges rivals to a debate

DAVAO CITY – Presidential aspirant Raul Roco challenged his rivals yesterday to a televised debate to let voters know each candidate’s views and platform of government.

Roco, who barnstormed yesterday towns in Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte, proposed adjustments to the rules of the debate, taking into account the other candidates’ possible lack of speaking prowess.

Roco said that he is willing to allow such candidates the luxury of having "two of their best advisers" as coaches during the event.

But Roco stopped short of proposing proxies for verbally challenged candidates. "Being president is not done through proxies in the first place."

Roco also insisted that the debaters do without "lifelines" like the "call a friend" gimmick popularized by TV game shows like "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and its clones. In such game shows each contestant is given the chance to call up a friend to provide an answer to a difficult question.

Unlike a game show, the debate would be judged by the people, Roco said.

Roco speculated that leading candidates President Arroyo and Fernando Poe Jr. might prefer to have their advisers at hand while Sen. Panfilo Lacson and religious leader Eddie Villanueva could do without them.

Mrs. Arroyo and Poe snubbed the recent forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) that was attended by Roco, Lacson and Villanueva.

Roco criticized Poe and the President for their apparent refusal to be questioned on their plans for the country but praised Lacson and Villanueva for having "shown their courage and mettle in engaging in public debate."

Poe is expected to win the presidential race despite his lack of experience in holding public office.

He unveiled his panel of economic advisers to allay concern over his inexperience. Malacañang said that’s not good enough. "It would help if you have a good team but it’s better if you have a good team plus the fact that you have enough background," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye told reporters. — With Marichu Villanueva