I am a firm believer of debates. Although I'm not good at it, I love watching the way debaters jab at each other. You'll feel like they are going down the pulpit anytime and start throwing punches. This is especially true in college debates. Honestly, they could be a bit annoying but you just have to deal with the bad to get the best.
I also prefer that our candidates show up in debates. Debates will bring out the best in them and the worst in them. I believe that a presidential candidate should be a quick thinking individual and articulate. How can they speak in front of world's leaders if they can't defend themselves with a simple question. Candidates who resort to mudslinging instead of attacking their opponent's opinion are simply dumb. He or she is not there to show what they can do but they are there simply to destroy an opponents' reputation.
This is the reason why I feel frustrated when I learned some candidates are no longer taking part of debates on television. Most would argue that they will just state their case to the people. Well, the political roadshow is a lot different in a debate. They are just there to babble without anyone talking back. They don't want to see the dark side of their ideas.
This is quite unfortunate because Gibo and Erap is no longer taking part on various debates. Gibo can speak well so he could easily present his case. But for some reason, he opted to say "no" along with Edu Manzano. Maybe the reason is Edu Manzano - after all, the upcoming debate is a tandem debate. I also prefer Erap to show up because he's a lot funnier today and with Binay at his side, they can easily lambaste any candidate.
The TV networks can also be blamed why candidates are no longer interested in nationally televised debates. Why have separate debates? I wish they could just meet and set the time and date. ABS-CBN, GMA, TV5, RPN9, NBN, UNTV, IBC and other TV stations can organize one debate without any commercial. But I think that's the way they think. Mr. Percy Lapid, a popular radio commentator is always clamoring for this type of debate.
So the debate with a complete list of presidential candidates is almost impossible. Shame on those who said they have no time and to the TV stations who don't give a damn about the country.
