Comelec chief Bautista 'very satisfied' with debate  

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista on Sunday said he was "very satisfied" with how the first edition of the presidential debates for the May elections turned out.

"I thought it was a world-class event both in terms of substance and form," Bautista told reporters at the conclusion of the Mindanao leg of Comelec's "PiliPinas Debates" series.

"I am very satisfied with how it turned out," he added.

Thanks to @gmanetwork& @inquirerdotnet for hosting the 1st PiliPinas Presidential Debate this evening&to all who tuned in/joined discussions

— Andy Bautista (@ChairAndyBau) February 21, 2016

He said the debate had more viewers than the fights of Filipino boxing icon and Sarangani Rep Manny Pacquiao.

Bautista said he was impressed by the technology that allowed voters to have a nice viewing experience.

The debate was aired live on GMA 7,  and live streamed in DZBB and GMA News Online.

Viewers were also given the option of watching the presidential debate through a 360-degree video.

Bautista also said that they made the right decision of holding the first of the three-series presidential debates in Mindanao.

"Ito yung unang debate na ginanap sa labas ng Metro Manila, I think angkop na dito sa Mindanao nagsimula," he said.

He said he is  looking forward to the next debate and he hopes that the other networks with their partner print media will either level with or exceed the turnout of the first part.

Bautista said that Comelec will have an assessment meeting with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and other media agencies regarding the event's turnout.

Sunday's debate was organized by the Comelec in cooperation with GMA Network and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

All five presidential candidates — Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago — were present in the debate.

The second leg of the debates will be held on March 20 in the Visayas while the third and last one will be held on April 24 in Luzon.

There will also be a debate for vice presidential candidates on April 10. —KBK/ALG, GMA News