By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
DAVAO mayor and presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte has confirmed that he would show up and face his rivals during the first presidential debate to be held in the city this month but his party, the PDP-Laban, has sought a change in the venue for fear of biases.
Alex Paurom, PDP-Laban assistant campaign manager for northern Mindanao, said Duterte has confirmed that he would come because he wanted to debate with Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II.
Paurom however said the PDP-Laban has asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to change the venue of the Feb. 21 debate. The party proposed that it be staged at the Limketkai Atrium.
Paurom said there were apprehensions because the owner of the debate venue, Capitol University (CU), is closely identified with Roxas.
“Ang tag-iya gud anang Capitol University, si Casimiro Juarez, known man na siya nga Mar Roxas,” he said.
Paurom said the PDP-Laban was only asking for a neutral ground so there would be no room for biases.
He said the party has raised the matter in a letter sent to Comelec director James Jimenez.
Paurom said Jimenez brushed aside the PDP-Laban’s apprehensions, and told one of Duterte’s campaign managers, former congresswoman Charito Plaza, that GMA Network was handling concerns on the venue, and that the TV network’s executives have assured that all the candidates would be treated equally.
Paurom said Jimenez also pointed out that the presidential debate would be handled by GMA Network and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Organizers have reportedly decided on holding the debate at the 6th floor of a CU building where only 300 people would be allowed. The 300 would come from the following sectors: urban poor, senior citizens, religious sector, persons with disability, and women.
Organizers are also planning on allowing the rest of the CU crowd to watch the presidential debate via wide screen in the gymnasium that could accommodate two thousand people.
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