Koko: Mandatory debates needed to ensure fair elections

Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, himself seeking re-election in the upcoming May polls, has filed a bill calling for mandatory electoral debates to give aspiring candidates a chance to share their platforms of government.

Senate Bill No. 2147, introduced by Pimentel, seeks to institutionalize the holding of electoral debates by amending Section 7.3 of Republic Act No. 9006, also known as the "Fair Election Act," which states that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) may require national television and radio networks to sponsor at least three (3) national debates among presidential candidates and at least one (1) national debate among vice presidential candidates.

"While the Fair Election Act included a provision on the holding of electoral debates, the same was merely permissive. This bill seeks to institutionalize the holding of electoral debates by amending the Fair Election Act to make this important activity mandatory," Pimentel said.

Pimentel said Comelec's supervision of at least three national debates among presidential candidates and at least one national debate among vice-presidential candidates, should be scheduled on three different days within the campaign period.

Each debate, Pimentel said, shall include a discussion of the candidate's program of government and their stand on the most pressing issues affecting their respective constituencies.

"Among the declaration of principles in the Fair Election Act is for the State to guarantee or ensure equal opportunity for public service, pursuant to the Constitution. One way to do this is to allow the candidates to engage each other in a debate where they will be asked to discuss their respective programs of government as well as their stand on the most pressing issues affecting their constituents," Pimentel said.

The measure also disallows television and radio networks broadcasting the debate from selling airtime for commercials and advertisements to interested advertisers and sponsors during the debate.