Candidates who will refuse to attend the debates sponsored by the Commission on Elections will no longer be allowed to air their virtual meetings or "e-rallies" for free on the poll body's channels, its spokesperson said Monday.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the sanction was part of the agreement between the poll body and the candidates' campaign teams in preparing for the Pilipinas Debates 2022.
"If they skip the debates, they will not be able to air their e-rallies on our e-rally platform," he told reporters in a press briefing.
"It will be until the end of the campaign period so they will no longer be able to use the e-rally platform of the Comelec," he added.
The Comelec earlier launched the Campaign S • A • F • E • COMELEC e-Rally Channel on Facebook which provides free airtime to broadcast the e-rallies of national candidates, especially those who are not well-known.
Each night, there will be three presidential and three vice-presidential slots at ten minutes each, and 10 slots for party lists at three minutes each.
Jimenez previously said all 10 candidates for president have "signified the commitment to attend the first debate" on March 19.
President candidate Bongbong Marcos' spokesperson Vic Rodriguez, however, said the son of the late dictator has yet to confirm his attendance in the said debate, adding that his participation will only be confirmed if his "hectic campaign schedules permit."
Comelec Acting Chair Soccoro Inting encouraged the candidates to attend the debates.
"Walang ibang layunin ito kundi para matulungan ang mga botante malaman kung saan kayo tumatayo sa iba’t ibang issue na kinakaharap ng lipunan at kung ano ang inyong mga plano para masolusyunan ito," she said.
The first presidential debate will take place on March 19, followed by the vice presidential debate on March 20, at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City. A second presidential debate is scheduled for April 3.
Jimenez said the candidates will be given the general areas of inquiry in the debate, but not the specific questions. Those who are involved in crafting the questions will be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement to protect the integrity of the debates.
The debates will have a single moderator, but Jimenez refused to identify who he or she is.
"The actual moderator for the debate will be announced in close proximity to the debate itself. This will protect all the parties involved," he said.
A presidential and vice-presidential town hall debates are also lined up for April 24 and 23, respectively, where the audience themselves will be allowed to ask questions to the candidates, Jimenez added.
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