Bacolod City-Will the U.P.(University of the Philippines) Law Alumni Association-Negros Occidental Chapter, organizer of the debate for mayoralty candidates of this city slated on Jan. 15, may suspend the scheduled debate?
This was after Mayor Evelio Leonardia, one of the participants of the debate challenged the organizer to hold the event through face-to-face debate.
Based on the statement released from the camp of Leonardia that they agreed 100 percent attend the scheduled debate at the University of St. La Salle.
But the camp of Leonardia, wrote a letter dated Jan. 10 to lawyer Ramon Antonio Pandan, pushing for a face-to-face or a one-on-one discussion of issues with his rival, Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
“Otherwise, the word “debate” organizers are using, becomes a misnomer,” according to George Zulueta, mayoral debate coordinator of Leonardia.
However, Zulueta said the organizers told them they may not be able to grant the request of Leonardia’s camp.
But, rather the organizer explained to them that a Zoom Room will be assigned for the mayoralty candidates. Their so-called debate will be streamed live on Facebook(FB).
The camp of Leonardia objected to the idea, pointing out the rival might be aided by a teleprompter.
Zulueta pointed out that that the rival might bring a coach and some documents or employ a team that will prompt him how to give his responses.
” It defeats the purpose of a debate. If the proceedings are done behind closed doors, it can be a venue for cheating, he added.
“We will certainly attend the debate. But we want
the rules to be fair and square,” the camp of the incumbent mayor further emphasized.
The format of the debate is a Town Hall Meeting. As defined by CNN, citing the Clinton-Trump face-off, the audience is selected by the Gallup polling organization. But the moderator/s choose who will ask questions./PN
