Miriam backs plan to hold presidential debates

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago rallied yesterday for debates among presidential candidates in next year’s polls.

The plan of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is consistent with Senate Bill No. 1797, the proposed Presidential Debate Reform Act that she filed in October 2013, she said.

“A debate format among presidential and vice presidential candidates would test who among these candidates is most fit for the position they are running for,” she said.

Pending at the Senate committee on electoral reforms, the bill seeks to institutionalize presidential and vice presidential debates through a Presidential Debate Commission.

The last presidential debate that the Comelec organized was in 1992, according to Chairman Andres Bautista.

This was the same year that Santiago ran for president against Fidel Ramos.

“Through debates, a well-informed voting population would be able to carefully choose their future leaders,” Santiago said.

“Debates are also opportunities for candidates to squarely face the allegations hurled against them.”

The proposed Presidential Debate Commission shall be composed of six members from the public or private sector.

Commissioners may be from government offices, academe, and non-profit organizations, among others.

The President would appoint two members from a list of nominees submitted by the two dominant political parties.

The four other members would be chosen by the Senate president and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as the majority leaders of both houses.

For the commission to be independent, no more than three appointees shall come from any political party, and the appointees shall as much as possible come from different sectors.

If enacted, the bill would mandate the commission to establish a schedule for one preliminary debate, not more than two vice presidential debates, and not less than two but not more than four presidential debates.