THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday, March 5, 2022, said it expects all presidential and vice-presidential candidates to be present and prepared for the forthcoming debate series ahead of the May 9 polls.
In a statement, Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said they are banking on the candidates for the top two posts in the land to be ready to face their rivals as well as the people.
"This is a high-stakes event that the voting public has been fervently looking forward to," said Jimenez.
"We expect all candidates to be on deck and ready to demonstrate why they deserve our vote," he added.
Jimenez said the first Presidential Debate is set on March 19, to be followed by the Vice-Presidential Debate on March 20, and the second Presidential Debate on April 3.
He said each debate will be anchored on a set of predetermined topics on pressing concerns of the country, including the pandemic and the economy.
There will also be a pool of questions, which will come from the concerned sector groups, which are being asked to exercise utmost confidentiality.
The Comelec said the three-hour debates will be following a single-moderator format with no live audience.
Draw lots will determine to whom the first question will go; while succeeding questions will be answered by the candidates in alphabetical order.
Jimenez added the "Pilipinas Debates 2022" will also include back-to-back Town Hall Debates.
He said the Presidential and Vice Presidential Town Hall Debates will be held on April 23 and 24, respectively.
Both will have remote and in-person audience, as well as a post-debate roundtable.
Jimenez said the Presidential and Vice Presidential Town Hall Debates will follow the double-moderator format.
The Comelec and Vote Pilipinas are to formalize an agreement to stage the "Pilipinas Debates 2022" on Monday, March 7, at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.
"We are very excited to have the agreement signed so we can finally share further details and mechanics of this much-awaited Comelec-organized debates," Jimenez said. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)