No e-rallies for candidates who will skip COMELEC debates

A few weeks ago, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that it will organize debates for candidates running for the upcoming elections. While attendance is optional, Comelec recently announced a penalty for those who will skip: they won’t broadcast their electronic rally (e-rally) on the poll body’s platform.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the consequence with last until the end of the campaign period. He explained, ‘We do have the e-rally that we allow them to use the platform and one of the agreements is that if they skip the debates, then they will not be able to air their e-rallies on our e-rally platform.’

The Comelec-run Facebook page Campaign S • A • F • E • COMELEC e-Rally Channel on Facebook provides free airtime to air the e-rallies of national candidates, highlighting those who are not well-known.

Every evening, there are three presidential and three vice-presidential slots who have 10 minutes each. There are also 10 slots for party lists with three minutes each.

The approaching Comelec presidential and vice-presidential debates will be at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City on March 19 and 20, respectively. A second presidential debate is set to be held on April 3.

Jimenez initially stated that all 10 presidential bets have confirmed their attendance for the first debate. But former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he will only be present if “his hectic campaign schedules permit” and is still looking at the format.

When it comes to the VP bets, Jimenez said House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza will skip the debate due to medical reasons. Meanwhile, Bongbong’s running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will not participate in the event.

Banner: (L) Pexels / cottonbro

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Source: we the pvblic