Text and photos by MARIO IGNACIO
EIGHT of the nine presidential candidates running in the May elections attended a forum organized by broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer at the University of the Philippines Theater in Quezon City Monday.
The forum, dubbed “1st Edition Presidential Debate,” was attended by Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, Councilor JC delos Reyes, Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon, Sen. Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, environmentalist Nicanor “Nicky” Perlas, former defense secretary and administration candidate Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, evangelist Eddie Villanueva, and Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar. Former president Joseph Estrada was a no-show.
Although billed as a a debate, the event was more of a forum with a question-and-answer format where the candidates were asked questions by three sets of three panelists which included Inquirer editors, columnists and reporters Jorge Aruta, Fr. Joaquin Bernas SJ, Rina Jimenez David, Raul Pangalangan, Michael Tan, Raul Marcelo, Pam Pastor and Fe Zamora.
Supporters of Teodoro waiting outside the theater before the debate reacted to anti-Gibo slogans carried by different student organizations, although the signs and posters were not exclusively critical of Teodoro.