Republic of the Philippines
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS
Manila
Resolution No. 6661 March 8, 2004
IN THE MATTER OF THE CONDUCT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE AS PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 7 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9006 JOINTLY BY THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS (COMELEC) AND THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE VOTING (PPCRV) ON APRIL 13, 2004 IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 10, 2004 SYNCHRONIZED ELECTIONS
Promulgated: 08 March 2004
WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9006, otherwise known as the “Fair Elections Act”, provides for the holding of free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections through fair election practices;
WHEREAS, Section 7.3 of said Act provides that the Commission on Elections may require national television and radio networks to sponsor at least three (3) national debates among presidential candidates and at least one (1) among vice-presidential candidates;
WHEREAS, the Commission and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) recognize the need to strengthen the citizens’ sense of responsibility in selecting the next President of the Republic of the Philippines in the May 10, 2004 elections;
WHEREAS, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), an accredited citizens’ arm of the Commission, cognizant of its responsibility to conduct, among others, information dissemination and voters’ education, has organized a presidential debate on major issues confronting the nation today;
WHEREAS, the ABC5 Television Network, Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) and Radio Veritas have signified their willingness to simulcast the PPCRV-organized presidential debate;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission on Elections, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act Nos. 6646, 7166, 9006, and other related laws has RESOLVED to promulgate as it hereby promulgates the following guidelines to govern the conduct of the said presidential debate.
Section 1. The debate shall be organized in the spirit of civility and dialogue for the continuing education of the electorate.
Section 2. The debate shall be the venue where the presidential candidates can reach out to as many citizens at the same time and sharing the same forum to explain what they stand for and why they deserve to be elected president for the next six years.
Section 3. All presidential candidates are requested to attend the presidential debate on April 13, 2004. If a candidate has officially declared his or her non-availability, his or her seat shall be left vacant with his or her name on it during the entire debate and the time allotted to him or her shall be equally distributed among the candidates present.
Section 4. There shall be three (3) rounds for the entire debate. The rounds shall be classified as Economic (Round 1), Political (Round 2), and Social (Round 3). There will be a banner question that will touch on the three classified concerns.
Section 5. Each round shall start with a one-minute explanation of the parameters and issues covered by the area of concern, by the Debate Moderator. Then after the explanation of the parameters and issues, the Debate Moderator shall pose the banner question for the round.
Section 6. All presidential candidates shall agree to comply with the allowable time limit given to each participating presidential candidate throughout the debate. There shall be no time extension. A red light shall be flashed to caution that 30 seconds are left for each allotted time. Candidates are thereby advised to wrap up heir statements when the red light is flashed. A buzzer shall sound upon the expiry of each allotted time.
Section 7. All candidates shall be given two (2) minutes each for their opening statements before the start of the debate proper and one (1) minute for their summation statements after the debate proper.
Section 8. In the debate proper, each candidate shall be allotted a total of five (5) minutes for each round under the following format:
First 3 minutes Constructive Speech on the Issue-Based Concern for the Round
1 minute Interpellation from an Opposing Candidate
Last 2 minutes Response to Question / Point Raised in the Interpellation
Section 9. In every round, the candidate who is to interpellate a speaker shall be determined by the drawing of lots. Each candidate may interpellate another candidate only once during the entire debate.
Section 10. Any clarification or inquiry throughout the debate shall be addressed to the Debate Moderator.
Section 11. A total of three (3) hours shall be allotted for the debate, tow (2) hours and ten (10) minutes of which shall be for the debate proper, opening statements and summation statements of all the six presidential candidates while the remaining 50 minutes shall be for the program intervals and breaks.
Let copies of this Resolution be given to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, ABC5 Television Network, Radio Mindanao Network, Radio Veritas and all presidential candidates for heir guidance and compliance.
Let the Education and Information Department implement this resolution.
SO ORDERED.
(Sgd.) BENJAMIN S. ABALOS, SR.
Chairman |
(Sgd.) RUFINO S.B. JAVIER
Commissioner | (Sgd.) MEHOL K. SADAIN
Commissioner |
(Sgd.) RESURRECCION Z. BORRA
Commissioner | (Sgd.) FLORENTINO A. TUASON, JR.
Commissioner
|
(Sgd.) VIRGILIO O. GARCILLANO
Commissioner | (Sgd.) MANUEL A. BARCELONA, JR.
Commissioner |
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