MANILA - Election candidates, including those running for national positions, are not mandated to participate in debates. If it were up to Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez, however, they should attend such events. "Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates should commit, to the public whose votes they seek, that they will participate in the #PiliPinasDebates2022," he posted on his Twitter account, @jabjimenez, on Saturday. In a previous post, Jimenez said they cannot oblige aspirants to attend public debates but historically, candidates attend Comelec-sponsored debates. The poll body is set to hold three presidential and vice-presidential debates in February, March, and April. Before the 2016 polls, the Comelec and its media partners conducted three presidential debates and one for the vice presidential bets. According to Section 7.3 of Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Election Act, the Comelec may require national television and radio networks to