It all started from a “serious miscommunication.”
The second presidential debate was delayed for more than an hour due to a lengthy dispute between Vice President Jejomar Binay and Mar Roxas who were at odds whether or not the former should be allowed to bring documents during the three-hour program.
Aside from the backstage discussions among the presidential candidates, TV5 executives and Commission on Election (Comelec) officials, VP Binay and Roxas aired their positions on stage, more or less 18 minutes before the debate started.
TV EXEC'S APOLOGY. This was after Luchi Cruz-Valdes, TV5’s head of news and public affairs, issued an apology for conveying wrong information to VP Binay’s camp—that he is allowed to bring notes during the debate.
Apparently, Cruz-Valdes didn't know about Comelec's "no notes" rule when she approved the request of VP Binay's camp "four or five days" before the debate.
“With all humility and with all due respect, I will now have to ask for an apology from all of the candidates,” said Cruz-Valdes in a behind-the-scenes footage aired on TV5 after the Pilipinas Debates 2016 program proper.
“But at this point we’re just gonna have to move on with the debates.
“But I will have to ask for the permission of the three other candidates if they will allow the vice president to carry his notes through the debate.”
ROXAS FIRM ON COMELEC'S 'NO NOTES' RULE. Roxas, however, opposed VP Binay’s desire to bring documents throughout the duration of the debate.
The former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary explained: “Inimbita niyo po kami rito, sinabihan niyo kami, ‘Ito ang mga patakaran.’
“Itong mga patakaran na ito ay sinang-ayunan, hindi lang sinang-ayunan, ito ay nagmula sa Comelec mismo.
“Nagmula ito sa Cagayan De Oro [presidential debate] one month ago.
“Tatlo, apat na meeting ang naganap sa pagitan ng lahat ng mga representatives ng mga kandidato.
“At no time, in fact not only at no time was it said na magbabago ang rules, inulit doon na no notes ang pag-uusap.”
Roxas also firmly believed that the Comelec has the final say over the debate rules and not TV5.
“This is being held under the auspices of the Comelec. Hindi ito yung kodigo o hindi.
“Ang issue dito, are we a rules-based society or not? May patakaran ba tayo o hindi?
“Ayun lang yun, e.
“Kaya para sa akin, sundin lang natin kung ano ang patakaran ng Comelec, ng proseso nitong mga debateng ito.
“That’s my two cents worth.”
BINAY WANTED TO BRING HIS NOTES. Binay, on the other, remained persistent about bringing notes to the program, insisting that he was given permission by Luchi herself.
“Yung auspices, it is as if this is controlled only by the Comelec.
“This is a joint venture, kaya ho ito makakadesisyon ho pareho, hindi ho ang Comelec lang ang magmamando.
“At gusto ko lang malaman, sila ho naghanda ng walang notes.
“E, ako dahil sa naniniwala naman kami na puwede.
“Biyernes pa ako nandito. May dala akong dokumento na gusto kong ipakita.
“Magiging mas maganda ang pagpapaliwanag kung meron akong dokumento.
“Ano ho ba ang diperensiya?”
Up to the last minute, the vice president was adamant about bringing notes which, he said, consists of public documents from Commission on Audit (COA) and Anti Money Laundering Council (AMLA), among others.
“Ano ba ang diperensiya na ipagpatuloy natin ito?
“Sila naghanda ng walang notes. Ako naghanda ng may notes.
“Puwede naman tayo magtuloy.
“Ang importante lamang dito sumunod kami sa time requirement, dapat magpresinta ka in two minutes.
“Kailangan sumagot ka in one minute and 30 seconds. Yun lang naman ang isyu dito.
“E, bakit ba bawal ang notes? E, hindi naman bawal in the first place?”
COMELEC CONFIRMS ''NO NOTES'' RULE. Comelec chairman Andres Bautista put a stop to the dispute between Vice President Binay and Roxas when he confirmed that no notes are allowed during the debate.
Apparently, the participants of the debate can only look at their notes or consult with their advisors in-between breaks.
“Maliwanag po na in preparation for this second debate we had two meetings,” said Chairman Bautista.
“And again, it was clear to Comelec as well as to the KBP that the rule of no notes was supposed to be observed for this second debate and also for subsequent debates.”
But in the spirit of fairness, Chairman Bautista also acknowledged the whole miscommunication started with TV5’s wrong dissemination of information.
“However, it is also true that the camp of the Vice President made a call to TV5, specifically to Ms. Luchi Cruz-Valdes and she gave the wrong information.”
In the end, VP Binay joined the Visayas debate without his notes.