PDP-Laban hints at possible debate with Otso Diretso | ABS-CBN

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PDP-Laban hints at possible debate with Otso Diretso

PDP-Laban hints at possible debate with Otso Diretso

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

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President Duterte raises the hands of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-LABAN) senatorial bets during the party's proclamation and kick-off rally held in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan on Feb. 14, 2019. Rey Baniquet, Presidential Photo

MANILA - The debate between administration and opposition senatorial bets may still push through.

Ruling political party PDP-Laban will coordinate with opposition slate Otso Diretso to address issues with the candidates' schedules towards a possible debate, party president and reelectionist Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said Tuesday.

"As the president of the party, I will assign a person to coordinate with the Otso Diretso," Pimentel told reporters on the sidelines of the party’s campaign rally in Bangued, Abra.

Otso Diretso candidates have publicly challenged senatorial bets endorsed by the Duterte administration to a public debate and have even asked the Commission on Elections to facilitate one.

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The poll body, however, said on Monday that it would unlikely host an official debate for senatorial candidates due to time constraints.

Pimentel clarified that PDP-Laban is open to a debate with other senatorial bets but usually faces problems with campaign schedules of candidates.

He also noted that if a debate pushes through, PDP-Laban may not necessarily include candidates endorsed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte's regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).

HNP is backing 13 bets, including several from the President's ticket.

"Bukas kami sa PDP-Laban sa debate (We are open to a debate). It’s a scheduling problem as far as we are concerned," Pimentel said.

"Ang problema ng PDP-Laban senatorial candidates, dala kami ng PDP-Laban, dala kami ng HNP, we are very busy with our campaign or rally schedule, kung minsan nga nagkaka-conflict pa eh,” he added.

(The problem with PDP-Laban candidates is that we are also endorsed by HNP so we are very busy with our campaign or rally schedule that are sometimes conflicting.)

Of the administration's senatorial roster, only his former political adviser Francis Tolentino and reelectionist Sen. JV Ejercito took part in the "Harapan 2019: The ABS-CBN Senatorial Town Hall Debate."

Meanwhile, all of Otso Diretso's bets participated in debate series.

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