Comelec to hold presidential, VP debates in schools

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday announced that it intendsto hold presidential and vice presidential debates in schools.

Comelec Chair Andrew Bautista noted that 37 percent of voters are aged 18 to 35.

"We are looking for informed voters... Ang gusto natin is yung ating mga botante sinusuri nila kumbaga 'yung mga track record ng ating mga kandidato, ano ba 'yung kanilang mga nagawa... at paano nila mapapabuti ang ating bayan," Bautista said in a press briefing.

The Comelec has already scheduled the presidential debates:

• February 21 - Mindanao
• March 20 - Visayas
• April 24 - Luzon (southern or central)

Meanwhile, the vice presidential debate is scheduled on April 10 and will be held in Manila. Bautista added that University of Santo Tomas is a potential venue for the said debate.

The Comelec chief added that the three presidential debates will have different formats.

The debate in Mindanao will have a moderator format, the Visayan debate will be a panel format and the debate in Luzon will have a town hall format, Bautista said.

The commission is set to release the final list of candidates for the 2016 elections by December 10.