Gordon wants government to sponsor debates among presidential bets

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines  — Sen. Richard Gordon has urged the government to sponsor debates among presidential aspirants in next year’s elections and challenged them to abandon their expensive advertisements in favor of such debates.

“Money should not be the issue. Level the playing field,” Gordon said in an interview here over the weekend during the conference-workshop on environmental security on tourism.

He lamented that expensive advertising has lured voters over the years to favor leaders who win on the basis of “mere image.”

“Those who have advertisements on TV don’t want to debate. On TV advertisements, no one will ask them anything. But what’s really important is (for a candidate) to explain his vision to the people,” he said.

“Here’s my proposal. Let’s say there’s no advertising. The government says we are going to sponsor debates, we will give you 60 minutes of advertising on TV,” he said.

The senator from Olongapo proposed the use of government-owned television for such debates. He said this should be done for free and under condition that other presidential candidates would abandon their advertisements in all television stations.

While he has “not yet announced his candidacy” for president, many have been speculating on it on the basis of his track record of 26 years of public service.

He said he is willing to go to Lakas or another party, but that his decision would depend on which party would decide on the basis of the qualification of its candidate, not on the basis of popularity surveys.

Former President Fidel Ramos earlier invited him to join the Lakas-Kampi CMD. Gordon has not made any commitment although he said he would also want to bring in his group, the Bagumbayan – Volunteers for a New Philippines, which is awaiting accreditation from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“Give me P100 million and let me advertise daily that I am good and in one month I will do well in rating. But is that what we want in a president, a mere image or do you want one with real track record who is capable of leading?” he asked. – With Dennis Carcamo