Candidate complains vs exclusion from debate

By BEN SERRANO
Correspondent

BUTUAN City–A candidate over the weekend threatened to sue organizers of a public debate for alleged discrimination, and for his exclusion in the activity last week.

Rodolfo Basadre Sr., a candidate for vice mayor here, said he felt that his right was violated and suppressed.

Basadre said he would file a complaint against officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the ombudsman.

Basadre complained said he was excluded from the recent Candidates Forum 2016 here, and that organizers “intentionally failed to invite him.”

He called it the “worst kind of discrimination,” pointing out that he was not declared a nuisance candidate.

The debate, held here on Friday, was organized by the Comelec, Fr. Urios University, PIA in Caraga, and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

A day before the debate, Basadre said he went to the PIA regional office and Comelec office in the city to complain about not being invited. He said he brought his concern to the attention of PIA regional director Abner Caga and city elections officer Samuel Rollo.

Basadre said Caga and Rollo suggested that he go to the debate venue so that he can participate. He said he was told that it was the university’s policy center that handled the invitations.

Basadre said he met the center’s director, lawyer Josefe Sorera Ty, but he was allegedly told that he would not be allowed to enter the debate venue without ticket. He said he begged that he be allowed inside but to no avail.

Councilor Sergio Pascual, another candidate for vice mayor, said debate organizers should have exercised prudence and tolerance by not making Basadre feel that he was a nuisance candidate.

“If that is the case, Comelec could have declared him earlier as a nuisance candidate. But for now, he is a legitimate candidate, and his name has been printed in the ballots,” Pascual said.