Ni NOEL ABUEL
Muling binuhay ni dating House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano ang panawagan nito sa Commission on Elections (Comelec) na gawin ang lahat para mapilit na dumalo sa isang debate ang lahat ng kumakandidato sa national post upang malaman ng taumbayan ang plataporma ng mga ito.
“The lives and livelihoods of Filipinos are at stake. The electorate needs to choose the right leaders not just for president and vice president but also for senators. To do so they need the opportunity to know and understand the platforms of candidates,” giit ni Cayetano.
Tugon ito ni Cayetano sa pahayag ni Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez na ang mga president and vice president candidates ay hindi inoobligang dumalo sa isang debate.
“Debates allow the voters a crucial opportunity to know and examine the aspirants’ qualifications, track records, platforms, and positions on issues of national concern,” sabi ng kongresista.
Oktubre ng nakaraang taon nang ipanawagan ni Cayetano ang debate sa pagitan ng presidential at vice-presidential candidates upang mabigyan ng lahat ng pagkakataon na marinig ng taumbayan.
“Voters will pick the best candidates based on all information. The person who will be the President does not have to be the best debater, but let us look at the sense of their ideas and visions and the way they communicate,”paliwanag nito.
Giit pa ni Cayetano sa halip na isantabi ng Comelec ang kahalagahan ng debate ay dapat pang dagdagan ang bilang ng debate mula sa kasalukuyang tatlo hanggang 15 linggong one-one-one debates sa anim na nangungunang presidential candidates sa pamamagitan ng round-robin basis.
“We keep telling people to be objective, to stick to the facts, and not to let emotions get in the way. But we’re not giving them the venue to do that. Instead of discourse, candidates are out campaigning and getting as many followers as they can. We’re not giving the public the venue to see the candidates side by side,” ani Cayetano.
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