Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista declares debate a success despite delay

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista said that despite the delay, he described the staging of the presidential debate in Cebu City as “successful.”

“Parang totoong debate talaga. Merong sagutan at palitan ng kuro-kuro. Gusto ko ngayon malaman ang reaksyon ng taongbayan,” Bautista told reporters after the PiliPinas 2016 debate has wrapped up past 9 tonight. (This is truly a real debate. There was an exchange of opinions and they traded answers. Now what I want to know is the reaction of the public).

Despite the tension prior to the start of the second presidential debate, the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay assured they will still continue to participate in the next debate.

Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla, an ally and former spokesman of Binay, told reporters there was a “misinterpretation of rules” regarding the bringing of documents into the debate which resulted into the more than an hour delay in the start of the debate at the UP Cebu Performing Arts Hall.

“VP (Binay) likes the discourse. And ayaw nya yung nagpapalit ng rules (But he didn’t like that rules were being changed),” Remulla said.

He said tensions rose backstage before the debate started due to the rule.

Remulla said Binay has been given confirmation by TV5 in a meeting two weeks ago that they were allowed to bring documents. But five minutes before the debate started, they were told it was not allowed.

The other two candidates, Sen. Grace Poe and Mar Roxas, were not okay with bringing the documents.

Remulla said what Binay would have wanted to show were his waiver to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (ALMC) on his bank deposits; and his health records and statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

“He had no documents to asperse anyone, except to clear himself that he’s innocent,” Remulla said.

After the debate, Binay was cordoned by his staff and some supporters from the time he left the debate hall until he got to his van. He did not grant a post-debate interview.

“I think napakita naman sino ang presidentiable sa lahat. Sino pinakahanda, sino may track record and staying within issues (I think we have shown who is the most presidentiable among all of them. Who was the most prepared, who has the track record and who was staying within issues),” Remulla said.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, runningmate of Davao City Mayor Duterte, said they were “disgusted” with how Binay acted when he insisted on showing his documents even if he already knew it was against Comelec rules.

“Kaya mong maging presidente pero di mo kayang magdebate na wala kang kodigong nasa harap mo?” Cayetano told reporters. (He said he has what it takes to be a president but he cannot engage in a debate without notes in front of him?)

He said the whole delay should be blamed on Binay since there were no problems with Comelec and TV5 and the other candidates.

Even in the first debate, he said no notes were allowed.

“The Vice President again wants to be above the law,” said Cayetano. “As an ordinary citizen, not as a candidate, medyo disgusto kami. We’re disgusted with what’s happening,” he said.