Binay “notes” delay debate

THE presidential debate that was supposed to start  at 5 p.m. was delayed for an hour and a half because Vice President Jejomar Binay (United Nationalist Alliance) wanted to bring along notes and documents that were questioned by the other candidates.

Mar Roxas (Liberal Party), Sen. Grace Poe and Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte questioned the Binay notes because they were against the rules. It took over an hour before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) set its foot down and decided to disallow the notes.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said the rules were clear. “You can have rules and confer with your advisers but you cannot bring it on the podium,” he said.

Binay, just minutes after the debate started, however, pulled out his notes and documents. He was stopped by moderator Luchi Cruz Valdez and asked him to adhere to the Comelec rules.

Valdez said it was their mistake that TV5 allowed Binay to bring notes, describing it as a “serious miscommunication”  with Comelec since it was not communicated with them that there was a standing rule that candidates should not bring in notes during the debate.

Juanito Victor Remulla, Binay spokesperson, said the Vice President had been practicing in the past two weeks with his notes only to be told 15 minutes before the debate that he could not bring these.

“What is the difference. Sila naghahanda na walang notes. Ako naman naniniwala naman na puwede (They were preparing with notes. I believe that bringing notes is allowed),” Remulla insisted. “Bakit ba bawal ang notes (How come notes are not allowed?),” he added.

The crowd, however, and Roxas responded “no, no, no.”

“Rules must be followed. Kaya hindi tayo uusad biling bansa dahil hindi natin sinusunod ang rules,” Roxas said.

Duterte, butted in: “Problem is it is your document. We’re at a loss  if that’s authentic or not.” Aside from the notes, Binay was also the first at  the debate venue, arriving at 4 p.m., an hour ahead of the 5 p.m. scheduled PiliPinas 2016 debate.

Each candidate was allowed to bring five staff members at the holding lounge and a total of 15 staff and supporters to watch the debate inside the  venue.

Roxas of Liberal Party, however, brought in more than six people when he headed for the holding lounge. The rest of his entourage were not allowed to get inside the door.

Even presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, who was with Roxas, was almost not allowed to get in and had to wiggle himself in between the door panel as the guards were about to close it.

Duterte, who was the second earliest candidate to arrive next to Binay, was in a jovial mood. Clad in a Barong Tagalog over blue jeans and leather shoes, Duterte was all smiles when he got inside the building and raised his fist as he walked to the stairs.

UP President Alfredo Pascual was already giving his welcome remarks inside the debate hall at 4:38 p.m. when Sen. Grace Poe walked into the building. After a short waved, she walked fast to the second floor to join with the other presidential candidates.