Manila, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) expressed green light in issuing a resolution that compels political aspirants to attend political debates.
COMELEC chairperson George Erwin Garcia stated that the commission is open to release a resolution so that the poll body can endorse poltical debates and oblige the candidates to participate.
Garcia noted that as candidates are obliged to comply with requirements and regulation of COMELEC, they can also compel the aspirants to join the debates they endorsed.
“Pwede kaming mag-issue ng resolution na bilang obligasyon ng mga kandidato sa Comelec, kailangang sumunod sila sa patakaran ng Comelec, and therefore, kung inendorse namin ang isang debate, pwede namin silang i-compel na umattend sa debate na ‘yan,” he said.
He added that the commission acknowledges the significance of political debates to help voters scrutinize the candidates and their platforms, reason why they are willing to cooperate to achieve this.
Garcia then urged media outlets to organize political debates and reach out to COMELEC as they are willing to give a go signal for it to happen.
“Ineengganyo natin ang istasyon ng radyo at telebisyon na baka gusto ninyong magpadebate at kami po ay magbibigay ng go signal,” Garcia said.