MANILA, Philippines (Updated 4:40 p.m.) — The Commission on Elections has denied the request of opposition slate Otso Diretso to have a debate with the administration-backed Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

According to reports, the poll body said that granting the request of Otso Diretso would be virtually the same as giving “preferential treatment” to some senatorial candidates or slates.

Comelec en banc rejected Otso Diretso senatorial bets' request to organize debate with rivals from Hugpong ng Pagbabago. @PhilippineStar — sheila crisostomo (@shecrisostomo) March 8, 2019

Comelec also said that it would be “practically impossible logistically” to stage a debate for all 62 contenders for Senate posts “without risking allegations of preferential treatment.”

It cited time constraints as the third reason.

In an interview with CNN Philippines last Monday, Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas said the poll body has no more time to organize a debate.

Alejano: Admin bets 'saved by the bell'

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, who is running under the opposition banner, said Friday that administration candidates managed to avoid meaningful debates on national issues.

“Congratulations, you were saved by the bell,” Alejano said.



"We were hoping for Comelec to be active in organizing the debate from the beginning," the opposition candidate said in his statement. "Failure of the Comelec to provide a venue for voters to hear the platform and stand on issues of the candidates on important policies is a disservice to the Filipino people," he added.



Former Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, also PDP-Laban president, said last week that administration candidates have been attending televised debates as well as talk shows and similar fora.

"I really don't know why they feel there is still a lack of debate," Pimentel, who welcomed the Comelec's decision on Friday, said during a campaign rally in Zamboanga City of the opposition's call to hold a public debate.

READ: Comelec denies Otso Diretso request for debate with Hugpong



Former Rep. Erin Tañada (Quezon) called Comelec’s reason not to hold the debate a “cop out.”

He said: "The Comelec is not doing it's job in helping educate the voters to make ‘informed choices’. All the Otso Diretso is asking is that they make guidelines in the conduct of the debate."

Tañada also said that if Comelec did not have time to organize the debate themselves, they could “pass it to the media networks.”



“All we need are the guidelines,” he said. “Instead of helping make the people be more intelligent and educated, the Comelec wants the people to be the opposite.”



Otso Diretso asked Comelec to organize the debates after Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said she wanted “organized” and not “palengke (market)” style debates.

“You can’t just say, ‘oh, let’s have a debate,’ it’s as if you are saying that we should have a fistfight. It was just like that, like something rushed, something that happens in a wet market,” she said in Filipino.

READ: Sara Duterte wants organized, not 'palengke-style' debates



She also called their relentless debate challenges — which have gone unanswered so far — a “fixation.”

Re-electionist Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV said that its not them, "but the people" who would benefit from a debate.

“The right to vote and right to know the stances of the candidates are tied together,” Aquino said.

“Kung gusto, may paraan (If they really wanted, there’s a way),” he added.

Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, who is a first-time candidate running with the opposition slate, slammed Comelec’s decision, saying its role is not only limited to running the election itself.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, the opposition slate’s campaign manager, said debates would help educate the voting public.

“A serious debate on issues of gut, life and livelihood—not cursing, threatening or joking—would help voters in choosing the leaders who will lead them,” Pangilinan said.

On February 25, Otso Diretso held a public event at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila. They had invited candidates of the administration PDP-Laban party and of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio-led Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

No candidates from either administration slate attended.

Malacañang dismissed the call for debate as an attempt by the opposition slate to gain publicity. — Gaea Katreena Cabico and Ryan Macasero