ONGOING: Final presidential debate in Pangasinan

Presidential bets Senator Grace Poe, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. FILE PHOTOS

The five candidates vying for the coveted seat in Malacañang shared one stage for the last time on Sunday during the third and final government-sanctioned presidential debate.

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Unlike in the second debate, all five presidential candidates—Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe, administration bet Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago—were in attendance at the Phinma-University of Pangasinan in Dagupan City.

Santiago missed the second presidential debate in Cebu City last March 20 because she signed up for a clinical trial of a new anti-cancer pill.

The third debate, set 15 days ahead of the May 9 elections, will feature a town hall format where people from various sectors can ask the candidates pre-screened questions. It will also have a segment where the candidates can ask each other questions.

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Some of the topics that are expected to be tackled in the Dagupan City debate include traffic and public transportation, electoral and political reforms, tax reform, foreign policy, and national defense.

The debate is organized by the Commission on Elections and hosted by ABS-CBN, Manila Bulletin, and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP). News anchors Karen Davila and Tony Velasquez serve as moderators. IDL

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