MANILA – Lahat ng 10 kandidato sa pagkapangulo sa Mayo 9 na halalan ay inaasahang dadalo sa unang debate na isasagawa ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) sa susunod na buwan.
“The debates are definitely on. The date that we’re looking at for the first presidential debate is on March 19, which is a Saturday. And thus far, we have commitments from all camps that their candidates will be joining us,” wika ni Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez sa isang press briefing.
Sinabi ni Jimenez na ang mga debate ay ipapalabas nang live “ngunit walang live na madla at libre para sa lahat na mag-broadcast.”
“We will be producing the show itself including the feed will be coming from the Comelec,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi ni Jimenez na ang unang debate ay iho-host ng isang moderator.
“The moderator will be one asking the questions, the moderator will be the only one who has any knowledge of what questions they will be asked. No one will have any advance information about the questions,” dagdag ni Jimenez.
Sinabi ni Jimenez na ang mga kandidato ay bibigyan ng ideya ng mga pangkalahatang paksa ngunit hindi sila bibigyan ng mga partikular na katanungan.
“One other particularly worthy rule is that we will not allow candidates to bring anything on stage. We will provide them with a pad and a pen on the podium, but they will not be able to bring notes to the debate,” dagdag pa ng Comelec official.
Wala pang detalye tungkol sa venue ng debate.
Ang mga kandidatong tumatakbo sa pagkapangulo ay sina: dating presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, labor leader Leody de Guzman, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, dating national security adviser Norberto Gonzales, Senator Panfilo Lacson, Faisal Mangondato, dating senador Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Jose Montemayor Jr., Senador Manny Pacquiao at Bise Presidente Leni Robredo.
Gayunpaman, sinabi ng tagapagsalita ni Marcos na si Vic Rodriguez na “hindi pa nakumpirma” ng Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer ang kanyang partisipasyon sa debate na itinataguyod ng Comelec.
“His participation in the said event, which will be held at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan will only be confirmed if his hectic campaign schedule permits,” wika ni Rodriguez sa isang pahayag.
