Eleksyon 2022 bets should commit to participate in Comelec debates —Jimenez

Commission on Elections spokesperson James Jimenez on Saturday said candidates for president and vice president in Eleksyon 2022 should commit to join the Comelec debates which are due to begin next month. 

Jimenez made the statement after presidential aspirant and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declined to participate in "The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews” on Saturday.

“Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates should commit, to the public whose votes they seek, that they will participate in the #PiliPinasDebates2022. #gauntlet,” Jimenez said on Twitter.

The Comelec spokesperson earlier said the law does not require candidates' participation in public debates, and that the poll body cannot oblige the candidates to show up.

However, candidates often participate in this kind of public forum due to "massive airtime," he said.

Jimenez said the Comelec is planning to conduct one public debate per month for presidential and vice presidential candidates starting in February until April.

He said they will start the signing of memoranda of understanding (MOU) with each candidate so they can agree on the rules of the debates.

The campaign period for candidates for national posts starts on February 8. The campaign period for local candidates, on the other hand, begins on March 25.

The 2022 national and local elections are scheduled on May 9. —Richa Noriega/KG, GMA News