Comelec says prexy bets to be grouped into 3, to debate on same topic

MANILA, Philippines — In the upcoming debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), presidential candidates will be grouped into three and will debate on the same topic.

The next Comelec presidential debate is slated on April 3 with government accountability and domestic policy as theme.

In the first debate, which was held on March 19, all presidential bets answered one general question per segment.

For the upcoming debate, there will only be one general question for the whole event that will be answered at the start of debate. Candidates will then be grouped in threes in the succeeding segments.

“For each succeeding segment, the candidates will be divided in groups of 3 where each group will be given one question essentially to debate on,” said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez in a press briefing.

“In total, there will be three questions for each succeeding segment. There will be a total of four segments with this format,” added Jimenez.

The group members will change each segment. It will be randomly pre-determined through draw lots prior to the debate.

Candidates will be given two minutes to answer with 30 seconds for rebuttal.

The debate will be moderated by journalist Ces Drilon.

/MUF