National candidates who will refuse to participate in the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) upcoming debates will no longer be allowed to make use of the poll body’s e-rally platform.
In a news conference on Monday, Comelec Acting Chairman Socorro B. Inting announced they will impose the sanction to “incentivize” candidates to join the organized debates.
Under Comelec’s e-rally initiative, candidates were allowed to air their campaign materials using Comelec’s official social media accounts.
“Those who will skip the debate will not be allowed to join the e-rallies,” Inting said.
Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez explained this was part of the agreement with candidates who made use of their e-rally platform.
He noted those who will snub their debates would be allowed to use their e-rally platform for the duration of the entire campaign period.
Debate schedules
Comelec is scheduled to hold the first leg of its PiliPinas Debates 2022: The Turning Point on March 19, 2022.
The debate, which will feature presidential candidates, will be held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City.
It will be followed by four other debates to be held in the following dates: March 20 (vice presidential candidates); April 3 (presidential candidates); April 23 (presidential town hall debate); and April 24 (vice presidential town hall debate).
The first three debates will follow a single-moderator format, wherein the participants will answer pre-determined topics.
The last two of the debates will make use of town hall debate format featuring two moderators.
Jimenez said the last two will feature questions to be sourced from selected audiences.
Undecided voters
Comelec reiterated it will leave a vacant podium for candidates, who will refuse to join debates to emphasize their absence in the said events.
The poll body said it has tapped Vote Pilipinas to conceptualize the format and details of the upcoming debates.
Jimenez said they hope their debate series will help undecided voters to make an informed choice come election day.
“There will still be some segments of society that will wait to hear the facts, opinions of candidates before they make their final choices. And we think that is a large enough segment that this will be a very impactful event,” Jimenez said.