Security beefed up in last presidential debate in Pangasinan

Antiriot forces of the Philippine National Police are on standby outside the University of Pangasinan, venue of the third and last presidential debate. YUJI GONZALES/INQUIRER.net

DAGUPAN CITY—The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday assured the public that security preparations were in place for the third and last presidential debate at Phinma-University of Pangasinan here to ensure the safety of both candidates and the public.

Police Supt. Christopher Abrahano told INQUIRER.net that about 700 police personnel had been deployed in the area to maintain peace and order throughout the government-sanctioned debate.

“Nakakasa na ang security plan natin, so far so good naman. Wala namang nagkakagulo, may mga ilang hinihimitay lang dahil sa init,” Abrahano said in a phone interview.

Abrahano said personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine Red Cross were also on standby, as well as antiriot forces.

An estimated crowd of 1,100 were expected inside the debate venue, added Abrahano, while a crowd of more or less 10,000 consisting mainly of supporters filled the streets outside the university.

As of writing, supporters of the five candidates—Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Grace Poe, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, and Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago—gathered outside the campus, some even dancing to loud campaign jingles.

The three-hour debate, organized by the Commission on Elections and hosted by ABS-CBN and Manila Bulletin, will zero in on Metro Manila traffic and public transport, job security, health, foreign policy, basic public education, overseas Filipino workers’ concerns, and the peace situation in Mindanao.

The debate will follow a town hall format, where pre-selected representatives from different sectors of society will have the chance to ask questions from the candidates. The candidates will also have the chance to ask each other questions in a face-off segment. RC