MANILA - The Commission on Elections on Friday said it has denied the opposition slate's request to craft rules for an official debate for senatorial candidates running in the 2019 midterm polls.

The election commission released its decision a week after several Otso Diretso bets filed a petition asking the poll body to craft rules and facilitate public debates.

The request was denied for 3 reasons, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a statement.

"Granting Otso Diretso’s request would be tantamount to giving preferential treatment to some senatorial candidates or slates," he said.

"It would be practically impossible, logistically, to conduct meaningful debates involving all 62 candidates, without risking allegations of preferential treatment; and there are considerable time constraints, with only about 2 months remaining [in the campaign period]," he said.

• Otso Diretso urges Comelec to set rules for public debate

Opposition candidates earlier said the Comelec's refusal to set rules for a public debate was a sign of "weakness."

"That only shows the weakness of the Comelec. Napakahina naman ng ating Commission on Elections para hindi 'yan gawan ng paraan," veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said in a press conference in Marikina City.

(Our Comelec is too weak to not be able to address that.)

"Kaysa aksayahin ng Comelec ang oras sa kakaikot, kakatingin saan nakalagay ang illegal posters, dapat gawin nito ang trabaho na magkaroon tayo ng well-informed electorate," he said.

(Instead of making rounds to look for illegal posters, the Comelec should focus on ensuring that we have a well-informed electorate.)

Former House Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada belied the Comelec's stance that there was not enough time to mount public debates featuring 62 candidates.

"Ang hinihingi lang naman ng Otso Diretso ay maging maliwanag ang rules," he said.

(Otso Diretso is only asking that the rules be clarified.)

• Otso Diretso: Comelec refusal to draft debate rules shows 'weakness'

The opposition roster had been urging candidates under the administration ticket to explain their stance on key issues and national policies.

Pre-election survey front runners, including reelectionist senators Cynthia Villar and Sonny Angara, have yet to participate in televised debates that discussed controversial measures they helped legislate.

Villar was ranked second while Angara placed third to ninth in Pulse Asia Inc's Jan. 26 to 31 survey.

Otso Diretso bets Gary Alejano, Samira Gutoc, Pilo Hilbay & Macalintal, who filed the debate petition before the Comelec, have yet to break into the Magic 12 circle or candidates who have a statistical chance of winning the elections.