Workers of the National Printing Office (NPO) wait for the resumption of printing of the 2016 official ballots, Thursday. The printing of the ballots was stalled due to a complaint filed by presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago due to the exclusion of the name of her party on the printed ballots.(MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — Malacañang on Saturday urged the voting public to watch the presidential and vice presidential debates organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“Siguro maliit na sakripisyo ito para sa bayan na manood tayong lahat, pag-usapan ang mga sagot at ang mismong mga tanong, at sa paraan na ito makakatulong sa ating desisyon sa bayan,” Communications Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III said over radio dzRB, citing that all presidential and vice presidential debates will be held during Sundays.
The first of the three presidential debates will be held in Cagayan de Oro City this Sunday, February 21 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
It will be hosted by GMA Network and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
TV5 and The Philippine Star will host the Visayas leg of the presidential debates on March 20 while ABS-CBN and Manila Bulletin will lead the Luzon debate on April 24.
The lone vice presidential debate will be hosted by CNN Philippines, Business Mirror and Rappler on April 10.
Quezon said that the debates will be mostly beneficial for the voting public as it will give them better appreciation of all the presidential and vice presidential candidates.
All presidential candidates — Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe, former Interior secretary Mar Roxas and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago — have confirmed their attendance to the debate in Cagayan de Oro City.
“I think this early on we should realize na dahil magkakaroon ng debate ang magiging panalo dito ang taumbayan, lalo na kung magiging saksi sila sa pag-uusap, sa pagprepresenta ng lahat ng mga kandidato ng kanilang plataporma, ng kanilang mga pananaw tungkol sa mga importanteng mga isyu,” Quezon said.
During the first debate, each candidates will be given 60 seconds each for their opening statements.
They will not only answer questions, but they are also expected to a face-off.(MNS)