In other countries, if you back out of debates or don't show up, people called you a coward, you're ratings suffer and then later maybe you’d be forced to agree to another debate.
Unfortunately, here, it seems, candidates just get away with it left and right.
I find if funny and I applaud that the Harapan 2013 people aptly labeled these no shows as “hindi humarap sa bayan”.
The label is just so RIGHT and APPROPRIATE because, really, are these people just scared?
I suppose, they are because if you are a candidate who is rating pretty well and you know you don’t have great debating skills or you’re not particularly endearing enough live, then there is pretty much a lot that you should be scared of when it comes to debates.
Remember that presidential debate in 2009 that burned a lot of candidates? Ex-president Erap talked about political dynasty and how if the child of a priest dreams of also becoming a priest, why will we deprive the kid of his dream? Might have been an ok answer, except, priests aren’t supposed to have children. In this same debate, Erap was also asked by a UP student what vice or luxury he thinks he cannot live without and he couldn't answer the question (presumably because he doesn't know the meaning of the word "vice"). He kept on asking the kid to repeat the question. He even had to ask the guy beside him (I forgot who it was) what the question meant. And, this guy, was already once the president of the country, albeit an ousted one. I have heard that these days Mr. Estrada would rather dance on TV shows than agree to debates.
It has been said that Obama evaded more debates with Hillary back when they were doing the democratic primaries because Hillary actually debated better than him. Great strategy perhaps because Obama won but that's not the point here.
My point is, as one of the people, I want my right of being able to scrutinize and get to know these potential clowns that I'm to potentially vote for through these debates. But then, like cowards, they won't show up.
So who are these no shows? Those who were invited to the debates but didn't show up according to ABS-CBN were :
Senators Loren Legarda, Alan Cayetano, Francis Escudero and Antonio Trillanes IV; Cynthia Villar and Jamby Madrigal, Nancy Binay, Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, Jack Enrile, JV Ejercito, Senator Gregorio Honasan, and Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Looking at this list, it is people who are already known, who rank high in surveys and who probably don’t want to risk their standing by saying something idiotic on air, which might be highly likely for some. While the others, who are not as high ranking on surveys and could probably use the free airtime publicity, likely chose not to show up because, well, they probably truly would have sucked at the debates, thereby pulling their ranking and image even further downwards.
(I personally wouldn't vote for most of these no shows and their not showing up at debates does not particularly endear them to me)
To the unknowns who came to the debate or to those who are somewhat known who came but didn't do so great either, I’ll give you this: At least, you showed up. At least, hinarap niyo ang bayan.
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A Quote from Political Analyst Prospero De Vera: "Bakit ba ayaw nilang humarap sa Harapan? Ayaw nilang makipagdebate. Isang indikasyon na hindi nila sineseryoso ang taumbayan. JKung hindi nila makuha sa sarili nila na humarap at magpaliwanag, indikasyon yan na baka hindi sila karapat-dapat," ( he said in an interview after Sunday's ABS-CBN Harapan debate)
A Quote from Risa Hontiveros: "Inuulit ko sa kanya na game ako diyan, sana ikaw din. Para itaas natin ang diskurso sa kampanyang ito, palayo sa mga personalidad at talagang padiin sa mga track records at plataporma. Eh ['yun] nga lang, tinanggihan niya 'yon. So pinasalamatan ko naman na at least hindi niya dinedma, sumagot siya. Sayang lang na hindi," (On Nancy Binay, re her refusal to accept debates and interviews)
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