“Itong mga katunggali namin, akala mo ang gagaling. Naghahamon pa ng debate… hindi nga sila manalo-nalo. Anong pangalan ng grupong aming katunggali? Otso otso? Kumukuha lang ng publicity ‘yan,” he said during Hugpong ng Pagbabago’s campaign in Antipolo City, Rizal.
Confident of winning a Senate seat, Estrada instead challenged Otso Diretso bets to a debate after the elections..
“Okay ako sa debate, magdebate kami sa July na pagdating, pag-opening ng Senado. Ang tunay na debate sa plenaryo ng Senado, hindi sa mga debate sa telebisyon,” he said.
All opposition bets — Mar Roxas, Bam Aquino, Florin “Pilo” Hilbay, Chel Diokno, Gary Alejano, Romy Macalintal, Erin Tañada III, and Samira Gutoc — have appeared in senatorial debates organized by TV networks, including in different installments of CNN Philippines’ Senatorial Forum.
However, of the 13-man HNP slate, Estrada, Senators Cynthia Villar and Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, House Deputy Speaker Pia Cayetano, former Senator Bong Revilla, and former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go have not yet appeared in any televised debate.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said there’s not enough time and no resources to sponsor a debate between the senatorial candidates of the administration-aligned Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) and Otso Diretso.
CNN Philippines correspondent Triciah Terada contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 5) — Plunder-accused senatorial candidate Jinggoy Estrada slammed opposition slate Otso Diretso for insisting on a public debate to feed their so-called hunger for publicity.
