Comelec seeks creation of presidential debate commission

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday pushed anew for the passage of a law requiring all presidential candidates to hold public debates.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said Congress should pass the pending bill providing for the creation of a Presidential Debate Commission.

“It is now urgent for Congress to pass the proposed bill because more than a year is needed to prepare the groundwork for presidential debates,” Jimenez said.

“We think the best time to do it is pass it this year so we can hold the debates after the filing of the Certificates of Candidacy, which is sometime in October next year,” he added.

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, declaring herself a possible presidential contender in 2016, filed Senate Bill 1797, which remains pending with the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation.

Santiago is seeking the creation of the presidential debate commission not later than one year before every date of elections of the President and Vice President.

In a resolution passed a few months ago, the Comelec expressed its support for the passage of the bill as long as it complies with existing election laws and commission resolutions.

“The commission resolves to advise the Senate committee that the Comelec interposes no objection to the creation of a Presidential Debate Commission,” the Comelec said.

Jimenez said holding of debates among candidates and having an entity that will solely handle the conduct of such activities will be beneficial to the voters in choosing the right candidate.

“The concept of debate is that it is part of the public information campaign on candidates as it will ultimately show their intelligence and capabilities to think on their feet,” Jimenez said.

With the creation of the debate commission, candidates will then be required to participate in public debates.

He said the debate commission will have the coercive power to require the candidates under the law while at this time, the Comelec can only invite or encourage candidates to participate.

“Without the law, it is still the decision of the candidate whether to attend or not,” Jimenez said.

He said the Comelec will also be free from the task or organizing such debates since the presidential commission to be created will handle it.