Comelec logo (黑料社 stock iimage)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The (Comelec) announced on Monday that it would inform presidential and vice presidential candidates of the general topics that would be discussed in its own sanctioned debate in March.
鈥淲e will give the candidates a general idea of what the topics to be discussed are, but what we will not give them are specific questions,鈥� James Jimenez, Comelec spokesperson, said in a media briefing.
鈥淲e would like the debates to be fair, and every candidate will have the opportunity to do whatever research they have to do in preparation for the debate because they will be given the general area around which the questions will revolve,鈥� he added.
Jimenez defended this move, saying: 鈥淚鈥檇 like to make it clear, this is not unusual and this is not unfair. In any debate, even in the Pilipinas debates that we held in 2016, we did inform the campaigns about the general topics to be discussed鈥� This is an 鈥榚verything under the sun whatever we want to ask鈥� [debate]. It鈥檚 not like that.鈥�
Jimenez then said the Comelec would meet with the campaign teams to inform them of general topics to be asked.
The Comelec would also sign with the candidates a memorandum of understanding (MOU) covering debate guidelines.
鈥淪o it will be a very formal affair,鈥� Jimenez said.
Comelec held the press briefing after announcing that all presidential candidates, including former Sen. Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr., would attend its upcoming debate on March 19.
However, Vic Rodriguez, the spokesperson of Marcos, clarified that the attendance of his candidate would only be confirmed 鈥渋f his hectic campaign schedules permit.鈥�
Previously, Marcos declined other invitations for formal interviews and debates where other candidates were invited, including GMA鈥檚 presidential interviews, and CNN Philippines鈥� presidential debates.
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