Photo:PNA 

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections might issue an order compelling  electoral aspirants to attend debates to help the electorate better decide on who to shade on their ballots. 

“Kinakailangang susunod sila sa patakaran ng Comelec and kung inendorse namin ang isang debate, pwede namin silang i-compel na umatend dun sa mga debate na yun  because sa aking paniniwala, ‘yan ay regulasyon ng Comelec,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

It has long been a custom for many election aspirants to skip debates and interviews and accept interview invitations only from platforms of their choice. 

Garcia said they are encouraging media outfits to sponsor debates which the Comelec will then approve since candidate scrutiny isn’t a mandate of the poll body.  

“Ang nangyari nung 2022, Comelec ang mismong nag-sponsor ng debate. Hindi tama ‘yun, contrary ‘yun sa batas. Kaya ngayon ay ine-engganyo namin ang mga istasyon ng radyo ang tv na gustong magpa-debate, kami ay magbibigay ng go signal,” Garcia said.