A TOP official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday urged Kagay-anons to go out and watch the presidential debate on Sunday at the Capitol University, even as local journalists express their dismay over the perceived monopoly in favor of two media giants co-sponsoring the event.
Lawyer James Jimenez, Comelec spokesperson, said the all candidates for the Presidency will take part in the two-hour debate, scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at the mini theater of Capitol University.
About 500 pre-selected audience will be allowed inside the debate venue but Jimenez said video monitors will be set up inside the university’s gymnasium to allow more people to watch the event as it unfolds.
The first of a series, PiliPinas Debate 2016 will also be aired live by GMA 7 and will be livestreamed by inquirer.net, the online publication of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Both media organizations are co-sponsoring the event.
But members of the local press, who earlier this week threatened to boycott the event because of coverage limitations imposed by the former, said they will cover the debate but will do so ‘under protest.’
In a statement released Friday, the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) castigated the Comelec for ‘letting private interests overshadow what should have been its mandate under the Constitution.’
“We maintain and reiterate our stand that there should never be a monopoly in the media coverage of a presidential debate, and that the government must ensure that such national event will be equally covered by mass media,” the COPC said.
The COPC is particularly incensed over the decision of debate organizers to disallow equipment such as video and still cameras inside the debate venue as these may interfere with the live broadcast of the event.
“We are still saddened knowing full well that our wings will be clipped,” the COPC said adding that local journalists will be like soldiers ‘going to war without guns.’
Also on Friday, online news site Rappler announced that it has filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court asking it to allow Filipinos to watch the debate on their phones, tablets, and computers.
In a statement posted on its website, Rappler noted that while it is ‘normal for large networks to push for all they can get,’ it is not normal for the Comelec to ‘abdicate its responsibility to ensure equal access.’
“This is the first time since the post-Marcos years that a government institution awarded exclusive rights to a public event--including the power to police all media--to the largest television networks,” Rappler said.
Rappler said it is holding Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista accountable for supposed violations of the Anti-Graft Law for granting the lead networks benefits and advantages ‘without the benefit of any transparent or equitable process.’
Rappler noted that by allowing the two media giants practically a monopoly in the coverage of the event, the Comelec in effect restricted the choice of medium of some 25 million voters, 46 percent of the country’s total number of registered voters.
Meanwhile, PDI’s John Nery, who will be co-hosting the debate with GMA 7’s Jessica Soho and Mike Enriquez, said Sunday’s event will be the first Presidential debate since 1992.
Nery said the candidates will be paired and will debate on various issues ranging from their track record, peace and order, and Mindanao-specific issues, among others.
Nery said the 500 pre-selected individuals will be allowed inside the debate hall - 25 from the local community press, 300 from different sectors, and 175 of the candidates’ supporters.
Some 3,000, half of which will be supporters of the different parties, will also be accommodated inside the gymnasium where they can watch the debate via video monitor.
Those planning to watch the debate will pass through the university’s entrance at Corrales Extension where security is expected to be tight.