How will the first PiliPinas debate unfold on Sunday?

On Sunday, five people vying for the highest post in the land are going to face off in Cagayan de Oro City for the first round of the PiliPinas 2016 Debates.

The event, organized by the Commission on Elections with GMA Network and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, will adhere to a modified dual moderator format, allowing the five candidates — Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago — not just to answer questions, but to face off with each other.

Before proceeding to the debate proper, the five presidential candidates will be given 60 seconds each for their opening statement.

The debate will have three rounds, with each round focusing on a specific issue. For every round, each candidate will get to answer one question, with another candidate being designated to react.

The candidate will be given 90 seconds to answer the question from the moderator. The other candidate will have 60 seconds for a rebuttal. The first candidate will have the last say in a 30-second counter-rebuttal.

After the three rounds, the candidates will be given another minute each for their closing statement.

The debate will be moderated by GMA News anchors Mike Enriquez and Jessica Soho and Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist John Nery.

The debate will be held at the Mini-Theater Building of Capitol University. It will be the first time that a presidential debate will be held in Mindanao. Similar debates will be held in Luzon and in the Visayas over the course of the 90-day campaign period.

The debate will air from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. live over GMA-7 and Super Radyo dzBB and will be livestreamed at www.gmanews.tv on February 21, Sunday. —Trisha Macas/JST, GMA News