Is this an idea that looks good only on paper or can it be done?
“In a statement posted on his official facebook page on Thu, Sep 17, former senator and current Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard ‘Dick’ Gordon said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should ban political advertisements and organize more public debates instead,” reports Yuji Vincent Gonzales in Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Gordon noted, for starters, “the high cost of airing a television ad, which candidates tend to prioritize the private interest of their funders over national interest.”
“Di pa nananalo meron na silang utang na loob at kapag nanalo, dahil sa ganitong kalakaran, ang mga nagsipag-bigay ay babawi. Ang kandidato, kapag nanalo na ay magiging sunud sunuran sa kanilang mga gustong mangyari (Even if they haven’t won yet, these candidates already owe a lot to those who contributed to their campaign. These people will try to recoup on the funds that they gave),” said Gordon.
He added: “Talo ang bayan dito sapagkat ang maisusulong ay interes o kapakanan lamang ng iilan (It’s the people who lose in this setup because only a few people’s interests will be prioritized).”
The report noted: “Gordon said the Comelec should instead organize public symposia where the candidates can present their platform of government and answer allegations being hurled against them.” Moreover, he said that “candidates’ curriculum vitae, among other records, should also be made public so the voters can scrutinize their qualifications and competencies.”
The report then went on to reveal that “Gordon, who ran for president in 2010 and senator in 2013 but lost, said this kind of system will restore public trust to the country’s electoral scheme.”
