Butch Bagabuyo “Is there anyone so wise as to learn by the experience of others?” – Voltaire THE second presidential debate turned out to be a confirmation by many lawyers and experts in the art of debate that among the four “presidentiables” present in the Cebu debate, our man, Davao Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte, had a distinct edge over the rest. As a seasoned city prosecutor in the biggest city of the world, Mayor Duterte proved to be a sui generis (one of a kind). I dare say that the three other contenders were there for the slaughter, as a matter of saying. Of course, Vice President Jejomar Binay is a lawyer. But not all lawyers are good debaters. The majority of the existing lawyers in our country are either corporate lawyers, executives of various business entities, consultants to name it and we have it, desk attorneys and notaries public. Setting humility aside, only a few of us who are litigation lawyers by profession are topnotch debaters; further, and I dare say that among the few practicing lawyers, much fewer still excel in art of debate. Believe you me, our next president of the country, Duterte, is sui generis in the art of debate. Because Duterte tops them all, he has easily won the first two so-called presidential debates sponsored by the Comelec in name only but not in deed. Hereunder is my take on why I dare say that thus far, the 2016 presidential debates is a 101 lesson on how not to hold a debate:
  • The so-called debate was delayed for one hour and 40 minutes simply because Binay and Mar Roxas fought over a non-issue of whether Binay can the vice president can be allowed to bring with him notes at the podium. This fact proves the glaring incompetence of the Comelec. While it is true that there appears to be a consensus among the “presidentiables” not to allow the bringing of notes on the podium, well-meaning and seasoned journalist Luchie Cruz Valdes, top honcho of the emerging giant TV 5, previously allowed Binay to bring notes with him. Bear in mind the Comelec had almost one month of preparation from the first debate in the City of Cagayan de Oro Feb. 21. And yet it failed to arrest such minor conflict between the two contending parties. In fact, to the many disgusted nitizens, the minor controversy that resulted in the too long a delay exposed the Comelec’s subservience to the dictates if not, caprice of the administration of PNoy and the Liberal Party. The Comelec cannot deny that during the first debate, the Comelec bowed to the clear insistence of Roxas on holding the debate at the Capitol University, a school owned and managed by his friend. Kagay-anons know that every time Roxas visits Cagayan de Oro, he spends the night at the residence of the owners and managers of the Capitol University. But the Comelec ignored the legitimate complaints of Kagay-anons.
  • The other glaring cause of the too lengthy delay in the start of the said second presidential debate was Comelec’s insensitivity to the citizenry’s right to information on the qualification, program of governance, character and demeanor of the candidates vying for the highest position of the land. For one, the affair also proved and showed one and all that in a debate of such kind and magnitude, the assigned moderator needs more than just sufficient charisma and utmost power to control the debaters’ penchant to speak without asking the permission of the moderator. Otherwise, the debate would turn out to be a tragedy as it did on Sunday in Cebu City.
  • Although, the clear winner beyond any doubt and the overwhelming favorite of the citizenry and the nitizens, most especially, was our man, “Super Digong” Duterte, it is sad note that:
1) Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares proved to be lacking in respect towards Binay and Roxas even as she defied not once but many times the plea of seasoned and wellespected journalist cum moderator. Not only that, the lady senator repeatedly disregarded to limit her talks on the topic at hand even as she discussed at length the topic outside the coverage of the issue at hand. 2) Roxas proved to be the mouthpiece of natuwad nga dalan. But this time, he was quick to say that there are still many things to be done. However, Mr. Roxas insisted that, so far, they have done a good job despite the Mamasapano massacre of the 44 SAF commandos. In his desire to destroy the good name of Mayor Duterte on his worldenowned drive against drugs, Mr. Roxas tried in vain to convince his listeners that drug addicts are aplenty in Davao and that Duterte is accused by COA of technical malversation. However, the good mayor from Davao challenged all the other contenders that should there be any case filed against him for graft and corruption, he would immediately withdraw from the race. And if only to assure the Filipinos that he means business, he repeated his campaign promise to wipe out criminality and drug addiction in the country within six months of his administration. 3) Binay proved beyond the shadow of doubt that he is not a debater, as he clearly showed anger in his repartee. The Vice President repeatedly accused Roxas of being a Josef Goebbels, the top security adviser of Germany’s Hitler and killer of innocent people opposed to Hitler. Goebbels is infamously known for his belief that a lie repeated many times becomes the truth. But the unmistakable sign of Binay’s anger was his demeanor in answering questions regarding his integrity. Binay was so hurt if not, punch-drunk by the non-stop accusations made by both Poe-Llamanzares and Roxas that he insisted that the meaning of “abjure” in the lady senator’s oath of allegiance to America was being ashamed of her being a Filipino. But a good many know that “abjure” means to take allegiance and not to be ashamed of because the word “Jur”comes from Latin meaning “to swear.” 4) All throughout the debate, Poe-Llamanzares, Roxas and Binay veered away from the issues at hand most of the time in order to take potshots at their rivals, prompting topnotch debater Duterte to bring them back to the issues at hand. Duterte-Cayetano pa more! Tsada, di ba?