The former chairperson of election watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) on Wednesday urged candidates in the May 9 elections to join interviews and debates.
PPCRV chairman emeritus Henrietta De Villa said these events offer candidates the chance to discuss their platform of governance and show their capacity to lead the country.
“Participate because what are you hiding if you don’t? Are you hiding something? Are you afraid of anything? If you are offering truth to the nation, there is no problem if you join,” she said in a public briefing, addressing aspiring leaders.
De Villa urged voters to set aside time to listen to candidates’ interviews, rallies, and debates.
“Have patience to scrutinize the attitude, character of the candidate you are leaning towards because during the campaign, they will make sweet promises, beautiful statements. But what will come out, in the end, are the attitude, the character of the candidates you are thinking of voting for,” she said.
The PPCRV is an accredited citizens’ arm of the Commission on Elections. Its mandates include voter education, poll watching, and the conduct of an unofficial parallel count.
This year, the PPCRV will move its command center to the University of Santo Tomas, instead of its typical venue at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center.
De Villa said the UST arena can accommodate 5,000 people and would allow COVID-19 physical distancing rules to be enforced.