Cortes’ camp turns down IBP invitation for a debate

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ (IBP) move to host a debate between mayoral and vice mayoral candidates in Mandaue City may not go the same way as with Cebu City’s bets.

While both camps of the Cebu City mayoral candidates have committed to participate in an IBP-mediated debate, the camp of Cebu Sixth District Representative Jonas Cortes, who is running against incumbent mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing in the 2019 May midterm elections, has declined the invitation.

Read more: IBP Cebu City live debate: Mayor Tom O, Vice Mayor Labella to face off on April 22

In a post in his Facebook page, lawyer Jamaal Calipayan, Cortes’ chief of staff, said he would advise Cortes and his running mate, Board Member Glenn Bercede, not to accept the invitation for debate which would be organized by IBP Cebu Chapter and Young Lawyers Association of Cebu (YLAC).

“I believe that debates are only necessary when there are pertinent issues to be resolved and in this case there are none… Our camp has nothing to prove, especially to the Mandaue voters who intimately know our plans and programs of actions,” Calipayan said.

On the other hand, lawyer Mae Elaine Bathan, the chief of staff of Quisumbing, said that the mayor and his running mate, Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna, are accepting the challenge.

Calipayan said that accepting the debate would only work for those “who need more media mileage.”

“So, since issue-wise there is nothing to debate about, we see no need to join this. Maybe those who accepted can debate among themselves so they will gain the media mileage they are so desperate about,” Calipayan said.

Cortes’ camp also declined an invitation from CDN Digital for its CDN Debates Facebook Live show that was scheduled last Saturday, March 30, 2019.

Quisumbing and Fortuna showed up for the show.

IBP Cebu Chapter President Ria Lidia Espina posted a public invitation for the Mandaue City mayoral and vice mayoral candidates on her Facebook account around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.

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“The Ibp Cebu Chapter and the Young Lawyers Association of Cebu (YLAC), Inc. officially invite the candidates for Mayor and Vice Mayor of Mandaue City to a debate on issues of the city. Details on the venue, date, time, and mechanics will follow once the two candidates accept the invitation.,” Espina’s post read. /bmjo