MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Monday (24 Feb 2025) that participating in election debates is not a requirement for national and local candidates in the upcoming May 12 mid-term elections.
In an interview, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia stated, “Requiring candidates to attend debates is not yet included in the current guidelines, as we are still examining its constitutionality.”
Garcia further clarified that the poll body will not organize debates for the May elections. “The Comelec is not responsible for hosting these debates. Any debates you may see will be organized by other groups and organizations, and it is entirely up to them,” he explained.
Despite this, the Comelec emphasized that debate organizers must ensure that every candidate is invited to participate. “Not even one candidate should be excluded. All must be invited to join,” Garcia added.
On Sunday, the Comelec issued guidelines for the conduct of television and radio election debates to ensure fairness and neutrality. The poll body stressed that political debates are vital tools in creating a fully informed electorate.
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