Comelec modifies 2nd presidential debate format

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has modified the format for the second round of the presidential debates on Sunday.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told reporters on Thursday that there will be one general question for all candidates to answer at the start of the program.

For each of the four succeeding segments, candidates will be divided into groups of three, and each group will be given one question to debate. 

There will be three questions for each segment. 

The groups will also change with each segment.

Jimenez said the groups will be randomly predetermined via a drawing of lots, which will happen two hours before the debate or at 5 p.m. 

Further, each candidate will be allotted two minutes or 120 seconds to answer a question, with 30 seconds added for a rebuttal.

“For this format, 120 seconds ang ibinibigay natin or two minutes para makasagot nang mas malalim at mas masustansya ang ating mga kandidato,” Jimenez said.

(For this format, we will give 120 seconds or two minutes so that the candidates will be able to answer more deeply and more effectively.)

A 60-second closing statement will be given to all candidates at the end of the debate.

According to a tweet by GMA News' Tina Panganiban-Perez, Sunday's debate will focus on government accountability and domestic policies. 

Jimenez says the theme of the debate is govt accountability and domestic policies. He says questions for the smaller groups will revolve around this theme but no question will be repeated among the groups. @gmanews #Eleksyon2022

— Tina PanganibanPerez (@tinapperez) March 31, 2022

The questions for the groups will also revolve around this theme, but no question will be repeated among the groups, Jimenez said.

Jimenez also said all candidates except one have confirmed their attendance, but he did not specify the names.

Nine out of the ten presidential bets participated in the Comelec’s first presidential debate on March 19. 

Instead of attending the debate, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. held a campaign rally in Marikina City. — VBL, GMA News