PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: A REQUIREMENT AND NOT AN OPTION

In every democratic country, election process is very important for it will

determine the person or persons who will represent and be expected to carry
out the welfare and the interests of the countrys citizens. It is therefore
important for every citizen to be crucial
and be elaborately censorious in making an informed and wise decision in
electing the person or persons who will have the reins in steering the country
to progress and development and as to upholding the general interests of
the citizenry. Therefore, in every election period it is important that every
citizen will scrutinize every electoral candidate to governmental positions,
specifically to scrutinize the platforms laid out by the said candidates since it
serves as their link to their promise to the citizens that they will uphold the
principles of good governance and rule of law. More importantly, people have
to be critical in scrutinizing those candidates vying for the most coveted
position. The presidential position. To enable citizens to be censorious on the
intent of the candidates through their platforms, we have the whole election
process which consists of: political campaigns, political talks, political rallies,
political advertisements and televised debates providing candidates to lay
down their beliefs as well as their plans for the country.
In the Philippines, however, all election activities except political debate is
adopted. It is only the political activity in the election process that has not
been practiced specifically presidential debates to this date. Although we
have a history of one presidential debate during the 1992 elections but thats
it, no other presidential debates held after. Now that May 2016 elections is
fast approaching, there are some movements as to bringing back
presidential debates through Republic Act 9006 or the Free and Fair Elections
Act allowing Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to require national
television and radio networks to sponsor presidential and vice- presidential
debates.
However, is it sufficient enough to invite the presidential candidates to the
said debates? How about when they refuse to participate? How then will the
citizens scrutinize the said candidate when attending to such event is only
optional and not obligatory? Which is why the main focus of this paper is to
discuss on the importance of presidential debates to be incorporated in the
election process activities here in the Philippines not only to make it optional
or voluntary participation of the aspiring candidates rather to make it
obligatory through the passage of the Presidential Debate Bill as introduced
by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. To fully discuss and tackle on the
topic, this paper will talk on a brief discussion on the history of presidential
debates juxtaposing it to its history here in the Philippines.