Comelec debates may be moved to first week of March

MANILA, Philippines — The debates of the 2022 national candidates will be postponed to a later date, probably by the first week of March, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday.

The Comelec-organized debates were initially set to kick off this month. However, it will be delayed as the preparations are still ongoing.

READ: Comelec challenges presidential, VP bets: Participate in debates

“It’s an ongoing process po. Ngayon, mayroon po kaming guidelines na pinapa-approve sa en banc. Hopefully this week, ma-approve na po sila,” Comelec Director Elaiza David said during the Laging Handa briefing.

(Now, we have guidelines pending the en banc’s approval. Hopefully, this week, it will be approved.)

“Tuloy na po ‘yan, although baka medyo maantala, kaunti lang po, ‘yung sa first debate natin. Kung last week of February po siya dati baka maging mga first week of March na muna po siya,” she continued.

(It will push through although our first debate may be slightly delayed. If it was initially set in the last week of February, it may be held by the first week of March.)

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the poll body will hold a “hybrid” debate where candidates will be in person but the audience would be virtual.

READ: Comelec is confident candidates will join debates, says spox

The Comelec said that there will be three presidential debates and three vice-presidential debates.

Meanwhile, David said that the e-rallies will start Tuesday, February 8, also the beginning of the campaign period for national positions.

“Kasado na po ‘yan. In fact, kanina po nagkaroon na kami ng briefing para sa mga kandidato at representatives ng kandidato on how to go out du’n po sa live streaming na e-rallies na ‘yan,” she said.

David said that the e-rallies will be streamed through Campaign Safe Comelec e-Rally Channel on social media platform Facebook.

The following are the allocated time for each candidate:

Presidential – 10 minutes, 3 slots/night

Vice presidential – 10 minutes 3 slots/night

Senatorial – 3 minutes, 5 slots/night

Party-list groups – 3 minutes, 5 slots/night

Political parties – 10 minutes, 3 slots/night

je