Mandatory presidential debate in RP has no legal basis - poll lawyer

MANILA, Philippines – An election lawyer on Monday said the mandatory presidential debates proposed by a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official has no legal basis.

A radio report quoted lawyer Romulo Macalintal as saying that holding mandatory presidential debates is not included in the Constitutional requirements for those who intend to run for presidency.

A separate report over dzBB radio also quoted Macalintal as saying that the Comelec can only "invite" presidential candidates for a debate and that no penalties may be imposed on those who refuse to be part of the debates.

Last week, Malacañang welcomed Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento’s proposal for the conduct of mandatory presidential debates, saying this may be a good way to help voters decide on who to vote.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez Jr said it is a good idea to have such debates to educate voters in time for the next presidential election, but said Malacañang is leaving it up to the Comelec to look into the matter.

"Pinauubaya natin yan sa Comelec. Kung ‘yan ang pananaw nila sila ang expert diyan (We leave that to the Commission on Elections. If that is its opinion, they are the experts there)," Golez said on government-run dzRB radio.

Golez said the present government will support whatever initiative is proposed to bolster the country's democratic processes. gmanews.tv

Palace warm to suggestion for mandatory presidential debates

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is warm to a reported proposal by a poll official to have mandatory debates among presidential candidates for the 2010 elections.

Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez Jr. said it is a good idea to have such debates to educate voters in time for the next presidential election.

"Pinauubaya natin yan sa Comelec. Kung ‘yan ang pananaw nila sila ang expert diyan (We leave that to the Commission on Elections. If that is its opinion, they are the experts there)," he said on government-run dzRB radio.

The proposal came from Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, who said such debates may be a good way to help voters decide the best candidate.

Golez said the present government will support whatever initiative is proposed to bolster the country's democratic processes.

"Ang pamahalaan naman natin, ang administrasyon ng Pangulong Arroyo, sinusuportahan anumang panukala na makakatulong sa pag-aayos ng ating democratic process (This administration supports any suggestion that can bolster our democratic processes)," he said.

"Anything that would make us understand if we can understand the capabilities who is going to run for office, napakaimportante sa mamamayan ang malaman ang kakayahan ng individual (it is important that our people know the capabilities of each candidate)," he added. gmanews.tv

COMELEC to require presidential debates in 2010

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will pass a resolution to hold presidential and vice-presidential debates as part of the preparations for the 2010 elections.

COMELEC Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, who was in Washington, D.C. to observe the US elections, said the televised debates of US president-elect barack Obama and Sen. John McCain helped voters decide.

"The debates informed the electorate about the candidates' persona and stand on various issues," Sarmiento said.

Sarmiento said debates to be held in the Philippines will "gauge the capacity, potential and eloquence of candidates."

Sarmiento cited debates as among the 10 lessons from the 2008 US presidential elections in a paper he wrote. Another lesson: the use of automated election system fast-tracked the voting, counting and announcing of election results. abs-cbnnews.com

COMELEC Chairman Jose Melo told reporters he is confident the Philippines will be able to see something like this happen here in 2010. He said he has instructed the COMELEC advisory council to speed up its process of selecting vendors and technology for 2010.

Sarmiento also noted the "gracious and immediate" concession of McCain, saying it is "worth emulating."

"The fine democratic behavior demonstrates a political maturity and strongly contributes to political stability" paving the way for "post-election healing... where winners and losers participated in a parade to symbolically 'bury the hatchet,'" he said.

Sarmiento, however, added that the US presidential election was not perfect, citing glitches that hounded polling places and recalling parallelisms in the Philippine election setting.

He cited incidents where precincts that opened up late were understaffed and had voters who found themselves unregistered. There were even electronic and optical scan machines "breaking down in some states, causing paper ballots to pile up."

Other lessons that Sarmiento saw were the power of young voters who made a difference and the modern technology that boosted Obama's candidacy.

He also said that the early voting led to shorter lines on election day especially in battleground states, the presence of the tri-media who kept the electorate informed about current issues, and the projection of potentials and capacities of the candidates.

Aside from these, Sarmiento said redefined moral issues and faith dimension were evident in the electoral campaign. In managing the electoral process, volunteerism among the adults and the young was impressive, he added.