Comelec to inform Eleksyon 2022 bets of general debate topics

The Commission on Elections will inform the 2022 presidential and vice presidential candidates which general topics will be tackled at the Comelec-sanctioned debate in March, spokesperson James Jimenez said.

"We have not released the general topics [to be asked yet], but I'd like to make it clear that it is not unusual for candidates to ask us about general topics [on which the questions will be based]. It is not unfair," Jimenez said in a press conference.

"We will inform them of general topics to be discussed. This is not...not the type of everything under the sun, bahala na [anything goes]. We will give the candidates the general topics to be discussed, but we won't give them specific questions. We want the debates to be fair," Jimenez added.

Jimenez last week announced that all 10 presidential candidates for 2022 elections would attend the Comelec debate.

The camp of former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., however, quickly disputed Jimenez, saying that Marcos will attend the Comelec debate if his schedule permits.

Jimenez responded by releasing a letter from Marcos' camp saying the former senator had expressed readiness to participate in the debate.

Marcos' campaign manager, Benhur Abalos, later said Comelec has yet to reply to their letter asking for details on the debate proper, including debate format.

Jimenez said on Monday that Comelec representatives will meet with the candidates' respective teams to inform them of general topics to be asked during the debate proper, and that the poll body will prepare a memorandum of understanding (MOU) covering debate guidelines that will be signed by the Comelec and the candidates.

"There is MOU because this is a formal affair, hindi kwento-kwento lang [this is not a word of mouth]," Jimenez said.

Marcos, Jr., the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, has skipped the Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews, the KBP Presidential forum, the Ikaw na Ba Presidential interview by DZBB and the CNN Philippines Presidential interview so far. — BM, GMA News