Hosted by TV5 and The Philippine Star, the second leg of the #PiliPinas Debates 2016 held at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City and set for 5pm on Sun, Mar 20, gained a lot of buzz before it even began.
In fact, it was its very delayed “beginning” that made it such a hot topic.
On Sun, Mar 20, 5pm came and went without the debate starting. The restless viewing public wondered, “When is it going to start?” TV5’s in-studio anchors did their best to keep everyone calm — but it proved to be quite a challenge as the delay stretched to over an hour.
So, what the hell happened?
Well, a TV5 report revealed that Vice President Jejomar Binay wanted to bring his notes with him to the debate stage. Binay explained that he had received assurance from TV5 News and Public Information head Luchi Cruz-Valdes that he could bring his notes. However, Cruz-Valdes later publicly apologized for the gaffe. She owned up to the mistake of saying Binay could bring his notes.
It turned out that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) did not permit this.
A statement cited by TV5’s partner in hosting the event, The Philippine Star, read: “Before the debate started, the Comelec clarified that it has been its standing rule that notes are not allowed during the debate proper but may refer and review in between breaks. Ms. Luchi Cruz-Valdes and the management of TV5 take full responsibility for the confusion and disagreement.”
The debate eventually started at around 6:30pm.
An Inquirer.net report likewise cited what Cruz-Valdes said during an off-air segment. She stated, “I would like to issue an apology in behalf of TV5. There has been a serious miscommunication, the miscommunication being that the Comelec rules have initially stated at the outset that there should be no notes or documents to be brought by the candidates during the debate.”
She added, “And about four or five days before the debate today, Congressman Toby (Tiangco) called me up to ask whether the VP could bring notes. And in my earnest desire to be sure that all of the candidates will be present, and not thinking there was such a rule, I did say, ‘I think so, of course.'”
Cruz-Valdes continued, “And now (Commission on Elections) chairman Andres (Bautista) said that this was a rule from the get-go. Because of this, all the other candidates have expressed their very strong protest against the violation of this rule.”
In light of all this, we’d like to give Cruz-Valdes the “Balls Award,” for having the guts to own up to the error that had a lot of people putting all the blame on TV5.
As for Binay’s notes… Is there any chance that he’ll ever share them with us?
