MANILA - Entering a debate is a "personal choice," said Hugpong ng Pagbabago chairperson Sara Duterte-Carpio, amid a debate challenge posed by opposition's Otso Diretso.

"A debate is a personal choice ikaw naman magde-decide as a candidate kung gusto mong sumali or hindi mayroon kaming candidates na hindi talaga sila interested mag-debate because they base their candidacy on their track record," Duterte-Carpio told reporters in San Juan.

Duterte-Carpio also welcomed the opposition’s concurrence with a rules-based debate for senatorial bets, but called for the identification of a third party organizer.

"Sige mag identify ng organizer at dapat mayroong 3rd party na organizer para sa debate and then we will HNP kasi is only the organizer of candidates of different parties so we will ask them kung sino sa kanila ang interested na sumali sa debate," she said.

Duterte-Carpio said candidates were also encouraged to attend debates.

”Of course yes madami sa kanila ang ano ang very supportive sa mga forums and mga debates na ginagawa ng media outlets, academe, and private organizations,” she said.

Earlier this week, Otso Diretso's candidates informally challenged other senatorial candidates to a debate in Plaza Miranda, where none of HNP's bets showed up.

• Hugpong bets no show at Plaza Miranda debate challenge

On Tuesday, Duterte-Carpio slammed the manner by which Otso Diretso challenged her bets to a debate, saying there was no formal invitation nor guidelines.

Otso Diretso Campaign manager Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said this Wednesday that he was willing to conform to such guidelines.

• Otso Diretso accepts Sara Duterte challenge for rules-based debate