Why the 2nd presidential debate was delayed

CEBU City — The moderator of the second leg of the Pilipinas Debates 2016 apologized for the mix-up about informing the candidates of debate rules, which pushed back the program by more than an hour.

TV5 anchor Luchi Cruz-Valdes took the podium after backstage discussions, to apologize to the party of Vice President Jejomar Binay for telling them that he could take his notes during the debate.

"It was a standing rule that was not communicated to me. About four or five days before this debate today, Congressman Toby [Tiangco, president of the United Nationalist Alliance] asked if the VP could bring notes. In my earnest desire for all candidates to be present, and not thinking that there was such rule, I said, 'I think so. Of course,'" Cruz-Valdes said.

Valdes said that "because of this, all the other candidates, especially (former Interior) Secretary Mar (Roxas) expressed their strong protest against the violation of that rule."

Valdes then asked the other candidates onstage if they will allow Binay to bring notes on the debate proper.

Roxas insisted that it was against the rules.

"We are here as your guests. Inimbitahan kami dito. Sinabi n'yo sa amin ito ang mga patakaran, ang mga patakaran ay sinang-ayunan... Tatlo o apat na meeting ang naganap sa mga kampo ng mga kandidato," Roxas said.

Binay wanted to react after his administration rival's remarks, cutting off Sen. Grace Poe's supposed response.

Poe told Binay to go ahead, after which the vice president said the debate is not just an event of the Comelec.

"It's a joint venture... Saka ano naman pong diperensya? Sila ay naghanda nang walang notes, ako naniwala naman na puwede," Binay said.

Network apologizes

TV5, the debate's host, issued a statement apologizing for the delay.

"On behalf of the management of TV5, the President, Mr. Noel Lorenzana and the head of News, Ms. Luchi Cruz-Valdes, would like to apologize for the inordinate delay in the 2nd Presidential debate that was brought about solely by the confusion on the rules implemented by the COMELEC on the Debate," it said.

"In the end, the Management of TV5, the COMELEC and the presidential candidates, have agreed that despite the technical and procedural issues, it is more important to allow the debate to proceed and not deprive the public of their right to witness this historical, exciting and Aksyon-filled event," it added.

Poll chief Andres Bautista, meaanwhile, spoke before the audience at the debate hall to insist on the rules.

"You cannot bring notes to the podium. That was the rule in the first debate. That is the rule for the subsequent debates," he said.

COMELEC Chairman Bautista addressing the audience #PiliPinasDebates2016 pic.twitter.com/q3UHdPprYh

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) March 20, 2016

When the debate finally started, Valdes said that the Comelec has ruled that notes would not be allowed on the candidates' podiums.

During the actual debate, Cruz-Valdes repeated the explanation as she prevented Binay from bringing out his notes.

The debate, held at the University of the Philippines-Cebu, was supposed to start at 5 p.m., but it started around 6:30 p.m. —ALG, GMA News