Sen. Koko Pimentel on Monday said there are legitimate challenges to pushing through with a debate between senatorial candidates of ruling political party PDP-Laban and candidates of the opposition Otso Diretso.

Speaking to ANC's Headstart, Pimentel said a debate between PDP-Laban and Otso Diretso is "unnecessary" but said he is willing to go through with it.

"It is unnecessary but we are willing. It is actually a scheduling problem na because we have a very pleasant problem with PDP-Laban. We have our own PDP-Laban rallies, we plan around 20. We are also adopted by the Hugpong ng Pagbabago of Mayor Sara Duterte. HNP has scheduled 110 rallies. This will now become a scheduling problem," he said.

Pimentel, president of PDP-Laban, earlier said he will assign a party member to coordinate with Otso Diretso about pushing through with the debate.

• PDP-Laban hints at possible debate with Otso Diretso

He also said he wants to make sure that media will cover the debate.

Otso Diretso candidates have publicly challenged senatorial bets endorsed by the Duterte administration to a public debate and have even asked the Commission on Elections to facilitate one.

The poll body, however, said on Monday that it would unlikely host an official debate for senatorial candidates due to time constraints.

ANC, March 11, 2019