SENATOR Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao asked the Commission on Elections to reconsider its position in giving advance topics and questions to candidates in the forthcoming face-to-face debates.

He said these debates are meant to inform people about a candidates’ quality of leadership and their style of governance and help them make a choice.

He also reminded the Comelec that its mandate is not only to ensure an honest and clean election but also to provide the electorate an avenue to make the right decision.

Pacquiao said presidential candidates who shun public debates and refuse to be subjected to full public scrutiny are obviously not ready to lead the country.

“Tumatakbo kang Presidente tapos hihingin mo ‘yung mga tanong? Kailangan ready ka sa mga tanong kasi tumatakbo kang Pangulo ng Pilipinas. Dapat ‘di ka mapili sa tanong kasi ‘pag tumatakbo kang Pangulo ng Pilipinas, as much as possible, lahat ng tanong puwede itatanong sa iyo dahil ikaw ay nag-a-apply na maging leader ng bansa. Kailangan open ka sa lahat ng mga tanong hindi ‘yung pipiliin mo ‘yung mga tanong,” he said.

“Tumatakbo kang Presidente dapat handa kang harapin ‘yung mga tanong na maaring ibabato sa iyo. Handa kang sagutin hindi ‘yung aalamin mo ‘yung mga questions. Mahirap ‘yan,” Pacquaio added.

He said it is best for the Comelec not to provide advance questions so that the electorate can truly get a sense of the purity of the candidates’ intention in seeking the presidency.