The long wait is over.
For the first time in 24 years, the five candidates vying for the highest position of the land are now on the same stage and are answering questions focusing on the issues relevant to the Mindanao region.
The five presidential aspirants: Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe, Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago have already took the stage at the Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City for the debate.
The last government-sanctioned debate was held in 1992.
The Cagayan de Oro City debate marks the first time that it will be held in Mindanao.
The format of the debate is as follows: candidates will be paired off and asked to directly answer questions given by hosts Mike Enriquez and Jessica Soho and co-host INQUIRER.net editor in chief John Nery. Each candidate will be given 90 seconds to answer. The candidates paired off will then have 60 seconds to give a comment or rebuttal.
Binay was the first to arrive in CDO on Saturday. On Sunday, the other four candidates landed in the city where they were met by their supporters.
The debate is co-presented by GMA and Philippine Daily Inquirer. JE
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