Wazzup Pilipinas!?
As the 2025 midterm elections approach, the battle for visibility among senatorial candidates is heating up. However, one glaring issue has come to the forefront—the exclusion of lesser-known candidates from major media-organized debates.
This concern was recently voiced by senatorial candidate David D'Angelo, who revealed that he was not invited to GMA Network's pre-recorded senatorial debate, which will air on February 1, 2025. According to him, the selection process prioritized candidates ranking high in the latest SWS and Pulse Asia surveys, leaving out those who may have strong platforms but lack mainstream recognition.
"It is unfortunate that we had not been invited and included in the GMA pre-recorded debate… Based on the reply I received, those who are invited are still based on survey results. So, if you’re not popular or ranking high, you won’t be invited," D'Angelo lamented.
While he acknowledged the importance of debates, he emphasized that the media should be responsible for giving all candidates a fair chance to present their plans for the country. Without this, he warned, the public is left with a limited selection of candidates who already have name recognition, often due to political dynasties or celebrity status.
Should Debates Be Exclusive? The Media’s Role in Fair Elections
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has expressed willingness to host election debates ahead of the 2025 midterms. However, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia clarified that the responsibility lies with media organizations to conduct and organize these debates, with Comelec playing only a supervisory role.
This brings up an important question: Should major networks like GMA-7, ABS-CBN, and TV 5 continue selecting candidates based on popularity, or should they include all aspirants for a more democratic discourse?
A common defense for limiting debate participants is practicality—with over 80 candidates vying for Senate seats, it is difficult to accommodate everyone. However, a potential solution is conducting debates in batches, allowing a fairer distribution of airtime among all candidates.
Many critics argue that mainstream media should serve the Filipino people, not political interests. If they continue prioritizing only the most famous or well-funded candidates, they deprive the public of valuable insights from other qualified contenders.
The Power of Media in Shaping Elections
The administration's senatorial slate for 2025 already includes high-profile names such as:
✅ Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos
✅ Senator Pia Cayetano
✅ Former Senator Manny Pacquiao
✅ House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto
✅ Senator Bong Go
While these candidates have the advantage of name recall and political machinery, they do not necessarily represent the full spectrum of ideas available to the Filipino electorate.
Independent and less-publicized candidates often come with fresh perspectives on governance, transparency, and economic reform—issues that political dynasties and career politicians may not prioritize. Unfortunately, their messages often go unheard due to lack of media exposure.
A Call for Fairness in 2025
David D’Angelo’s case is just one example of a systemic issue in Philippine elections. If democracy is to be truly upheld, all candidates must be given equal opportunity to reach the people.
With the elections fast approaching, it is crucial for:
▶ Media organizations to ensure that debates are inclusive and balanced.
▶ Regulatory bodies like Comelec to step in and promote fairer election coverage.
▶ Voters to seek out information beyond what mainstream media presents.
Filipinos deserve a comprehensive view of all candidates, not just those who have been pre-selected by survey rankings and media networks.
If media companies truly serve the people, they must level the playing field and let all voices be heard. Because in a democracy, every candidate deserves a chance—and every voter deserves the full picture.
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