Press Release
March 9, 2009

Gordon welcomes planned debate among national candidates

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today welcomed the plan by the Rotary Club of Downtown Manila (RCDM) to host a debate among prospective candidates for national positions in May 2010 elections.

Gordon expressed strong support to the RCDM's plan for a public debate which he claimed would enable the Filipino electorate to evaluate the qualifications of the candidates vying for national elective office.

"That is what we need, an avenue for candidates to present their platform of government. This way, the electorate will get to know the candidates and they will be able to evaluate their competence, integrity and reliability to lead the country and would not have to rely on surveys in choosing the country's leaders," he said.

RDCM President Alejandro Rodriguez has earlier announced he has obtained the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) green light to host on March 25 a debate among prospective candidates for national elective office in May 2010 elections.

To be called as "First Open Forum on Public Service and Good Governance Issues," Rodriquez said the forum shall serve as the venue for the public to learn about the views and stands on the different issues among national candidates.

Gordon has earlier filed Senate Bill 2079, which seeks to mandate major television and radio networks to sponsor at least three national debates among presidential candidates and at least one national debate among vice presidential candidates.

According to him, in the recent presidential elections in the United States, the American electorate had gained an insight on the two candidates through the debates that were strategically held throughout the campaign period.

"Look at the recent presidential elections in the US, the debates helped the electorate decide on which candidate to vote for because the debates gave the electorate an insight on the candidates' position on matters of national significance," he said.

Though the Fair Elections Act directs the Comelec to procure free airtime from at least three national television and radio networks for equal allocation to all candidates for national office, Gordon noted that there is currently no mechanism that requires nationally elected candidates to make known their position on matters of national significance through intelligent debate.

"The debates would be very useful as they would help the electorate get to know the candidates. We will see the last of 'meeting de avance' usually attended by candidates who are only full of promises but offering no concrete action plans," he said.

"The debates would enjoin a candidate to prepare concrete action plans in consonant with his or her platform of government in order to weigh more favorably against the opponents," he added.

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