Insight on the Presidential Debate

Rarely do we see all five presidential aspirants in one stage. But Comelec made it possible as Vice-President Jejomar Binay, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Grace Poe and former DILG Sec. Mar Roxas gathered together in the Mini-Theater of Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City last Sunday February 21, 2016 in an event dubbed as PiliPinas Debates 2016. This was just the first of the three or four editions (a plan is on the making for a final edition with the presidentiable and vice-presidentiable tandem) debate with GMA Network as its host media although all media companies both national and local (Davao Verbum Dei Media Foundation Inc. included) has full coverage access. The second will be in the Visayas region and will be hosted by TV5 and the third will be in Luzon to be hosted by ABS-CBN. As of this writing and contrary to many news, exact location are yet to be decided consensually by all parties. And even the format of the debates can be improved if agreed by the same. Indeed, history is on the making right before our very eyes and Davao Catholic Herald sees it live.

Although, our country had already a similar debate of presidentiables almost 20 years ago but for me in this new generation of voters, this was the first time I ever got to see this spectacle of banter, the clever teasing and light mockery unfolding in my face. But that’s what debate is supposed to be, “… so the voters will get to hear and see and hopefully aid them in their decision come May 2016 election,” said Comelec Sec. Andres Bautista. “In this age of technology, we dream to mantle one stage where all of them (presidential aspirants) can present to the public his/her platform and be a guide for our voters,” he added.

The debate started with every presidential aspirant’s one-minute opening speech. Vice-President Jejomar Binay anchored his opening piece to his so-called “firsthand experience of poverty”. And it was with that premise, too, that he was further prodded about his present affluence in the second round of the debate. His message is as simple as a tourism campaign – to come, see and visit Makati, that is.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago noticeably was not in her best form being a known fierce debater. Nevertheless, she still managed to shoot bulls-eye every politician (inside the room and out) in her tirade for incompetent, corrupt and self-serving politicians as these are the first evil that needs to be eradicated.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte boldly emphasized to bulldoze crime, drugs and corruption in a matter of six
months. He said to have believed that national progress always comes after a peaceful and drug-free nation run by competent leaders.

Sen. Grace Poe said the platform most Mindanao people wanted to hear – to give to Mindanao the 30% of the national budget. She may have done quite a research as she speaks fluently (with single buckle or two) with statistical citations of the current status quo of Mindanao.

Former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas commenced his speech mocking immediately every other candidate about his idea of a president – that a president must be stainless with corruption, physically fit to be of service and upholds the basic human right, presumably to criticize Binay, Santiago and Duterte’s qualifications respectively. While he did not criticize Poe, he cited that it’s always a good choice to ride an experienced rather than a newbie driver.

My next article would contain how these presidential aspirants managed to answer controversial issues like corruption for Binay, health issues for Defensor-Santiago, question of morality over integrity for Duterte, no sufficient leadership experience for Poe, and incompetence of Mar in his past government stint. (Dennis Asumbrado)