Comelec should mull charges vs. persons liable for debate mess, says exec

Commissioner Rey Bulay of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said charges should be considered against persons who will be found liable in the scrapped presidential and vice presidential debates, according to Tina Panganiban-Perez’s report on “24 Oras."

"The Commission is conducting an investigation to determine the liability of Impact Hub, and others who are also liable in this transaction, which now appears to be manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government," Bulay said in an inter-office memorandum to the Commission en banc.

"Eventually, the Commission should consider the filing of the corresponding charges against those found liable," he added.

Bulay has been tasked to lead the investigation on the postponement of the debates originally scheduled on April 23 and 24, 2022.  

The debates were postponed after it was earlier reported that Comelec's contractor, Impact Hub Manila, has yet to fully pay Sofitel Garden Plaza, the event's official venue, prompting Philippine Plaza Holdings Inc. (PPHI), Sofitel's owner, to threaten to pull out from their agreement.

On Monday, the poll body, citing "inevitable scheduling conflicts," said it has scrapped the debates and will instead push for a panel interview with each candidate.

In a news conference, Bulay said at least 14 Comelec directors and concerned executives have submitted their explanation on the matter.

"We need to study their response....Kung may awa ang D'yos at kung magkakaroon ako ng full cooperation, siguro by Friday, magpapatawag uli ako ng press conference.  I will make you aware  of my findings and recommendations to the en banc," he said.

To recall, the state-sponsored debates were scrapped after the cheques issued by Impact Hub worth P14-million to supposedly pay Sofitel Garden Plaza bounced.

Based on the memorandum of the agreement, the Comelec does not have financial liability for the staging of the event. Impact Hub, however, is allowed to seek advertisements to earn revenues.

Bulay said some Comelec officials sought to release the the money to Impact Hub. However, he stressed it would be “criminal” for the Comelec to do so because there is no approved resolution or contracts for it.

“In fairness to the office of the Chairman, naka-hold po yun bago pa nag-start ang investigation at bago pa lumitaw ang problema last week tungkol sa Impact Hub at Sofitel. One thing is for sure, walang lumabas na single centavo from Comelec,” he said.

(In fairness to the office of the Chairman, it has put on hold the release even before the investigation and even prior to the surfacing of the problem between Impact Hub at Sofitel. One thing is for sure, no single centavo was released from the Comelec.)

Asked if there will be preventive suspension among officials, Bulay said: “Ang preventive suspension ay Office of the Ombudsman ang nag-aano pag may na-file na kaso.  This is only in the Comelec internally.. it will depend on the en banc kung gusto nila idemanda kung mayroon mang dapat i-demanda.”

(Preventive suspensions are under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman… if someone files a case. This is only in the Comelec internally. It will depend on the en banc if it wants to file cases.)

The Commissioner assured the incident will not affect the integrity of the elections and suggested the poll body cut off its private contractor.

For its part, Impact Hub clarified that the Comelec is not included in its contract with the hotel venue. It further explained there was internal conflict between them and Sofitel which they want to resolve privately.

Due to the changes in schedule, the poll body changed the debates into taped interviews slated from May 2 to 6. It has partnered with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas for it.

“Ang magiging format ay parang interview. Either one-on-one or doon sa mismong partner o doon sa tandem… Mabibigyan sila ng isang buong oras ngayon upang maipahayag nila ang kung ano ‘yung kanilang plataporma,” Commissioner George Garcia said.

(The format will be an interview. Either one-on-one or with their partners… They will be given an hour to tell their platforms.)—Sundy Mae Locus/LDF, GMA News