All set for presidential debate – Comelec

All is set for the first presidential debate to be held at Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City tomorrow.

“It’s all systems go for our first debate for presidential candidates. This is the first in our history that a presidential debate will be held outside Metro Manila and we are happy that it will take place in Cagayan de Oro,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista said yesterday.

Bautista noted that the debate was patterned after the CNN Republican debates where candidates are given the chance to comment on the position of their rivals.

“There is a specific question, for example, for candidate number 1 and he will be given 1.5 minutes to answer. Then candidate number 2 will do a rebuttal of the answer. And then candidate no. 1 will get 30 seconds for rebuttal. This is like a face-off,” he added.

The poll chief earlier announced that the five presidential aspirants – Vice President Jejomar Binay, Sens. Grace Poe and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, former interior secretary Manuel Roxas II and Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte – have committed to participate in the debate.

But yesterday, Duterte again threatened not to join if his speaking time will not be prolonged. Asked about it, Bautista just laughed it off and refused to comment.

Bautista has urged the public to watch the televised debate, which was organized by

GMA 7 and Philippine Daily Inquirer. The debate will touch on four issues – development, peace and order, track record and the Constitution/Mindanao issue.

“It will have a very interesting format patterned after international best practices. It will be very interesting because while candidates know the format, the topics, they don’t know the questions that will be asked of them,” he maintained.

The second presidential debate will be organized by The STAR with TV5 and BusinessWorld on March 20 at the University of the Philippines in Cebu, while the third debate will be led by ABS-CBN and

Manila Bulletin in Luzon on April 24.