IN PHOTOS: UST hosts VP debate on April 10

Mara Cepeda

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

IN PHOTOS: UST hosts VP debate on April 10

LeAnne Jazul

A sneak peek into the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, where all 6 vice presidential bets are set to battle it out on Sunday for the Comelec-organized event

MANILA, Philippines – All 6 vice presidential candidates for the May polls will square off in the only debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday, April 10.

Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan II, and Antonio Trillanes IV, and Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Leni Robredo are expected to go head-to-head as they tackle the following issues:

  • Corruption
  • Poverty
  • Political dynasties
  • Human rights
  • Peace and order
  • Traffic and other urban problems
  • Internet connectivity
  • Foreign policy
  • The issue of the vice president being a “spare tire”

The Comelec is organizing the event with CNN Philippines, BusinessMirror, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, and the University of Santo Tomas (UST), the venue for the debate. 

It will follow a “dual moderator and town hall” format, wherein candidates will answer questions from moderators Pia Hontiveros and Pinky Webb of CNN Philippines; panelists John Mangun of BusinessMirror, and CNN Philippines correspondents Yna Andolong and David Santos; and pre-selected audience members.

CNN Philippines will be airing the debate live on television from 5 pm to 7:30 pm, but other news outlets are allowed to live stream the event.

This is after the Supreme Court voted 14-0 to partially grant Rappler’s petition to stop Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista from restricting online access to the debates. (READ: Comelec chair discriminated vs Internet-based media – Leonen)

LIVE: Part 2 of walkthrough of VP debate venue in UST

Posted by Rappler on Friday, April 8, 2016

 

Preparations are underway at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion’s basketball court, the main debate hall that is expected to seat about 4,100 persons.

Every VP bet will be given 165 seats – 15 for members of their campaign team to be seated near the stage, and 150 for supporters to be seated on the bleachers across the stage.

Seats will also be reserved for pre-registered audience members from the Comelec, UST students and faculty members, representatives of various civil society groups, and members of the media.

About 2,500 seats on the top bleachers area will be open to the public on a first come, first served basis.

 

Only reporters from CNN Philippines and BusinessMirror are allowed to report live and to shoot videos inside the debate hall on the second floor.

Journalists from other media entities, however, will be allowed to tweet text and photos from inside the basketball court.

Several training halls on the first floor will be converted to become the media center, where reporters will be given their respective work areas. 

UST will be giving access to its Wi-Fi connection, but journalists have been advised to bring their own means to access the Internet.

The VP candidates and their guests will enter through this area at the back of the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. They are expected to start arriving at 3 pm.

Ambush interviews upon their arrival and during the debate proper are prohibited, but interviews after the debate are allowed.

These may be held inside the media center or in an area near the candidates’ entrance, which the debate organizers have yet to set up as of Friday afternoon.

Every VP candidate will be given his or her own holding room just across the gates. They may opt to stay there until 4:30 pm only, when they will be asked to move to the backstage on the second floor.

Candidates’ supporters and other pre-registered audience members are to enter the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion at the front gates, which will be opened at 1 pm.

Wristbands for pre-registered guests will be given out at the gates from 2 pm to 3 pm.

This is also the area where those who wish to avail of the 2,500 available seats at the top bleachers may line up. Their slots are not guaranteed, however, as the seating arrangement follows a first come, first served basis.

All guests need to bring valid IDs.

Unlike the first two presidential debates, the organizers will not be setting up monitors outside the venue for those who will not be able enter the debate hall. 

All audience members will be barred from bringing the following inside the venue: food, drinks, campaign materials, deadly weapons, recording devices, pets, laser pointers, and noise-making devices like bullhorns.

Smoking and wearing of sandos, tank tops, and slippers are also banned.

Check out real-time updates on Rappler’s live blog for the PiliPinas 2016 Vice Presidential Debate. – Rappler.com

Read about how vice presidential candidates are preparing for the debate:

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Mara Cepeda

Mara Cepeda specializes in stories about politics and local governance. She covers the Office of the Vice President, the Senate, and the Philippine opposition. She is a 2021 fellow of the Asia Journalism Fellowship and the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship of the UN. Got tips? Email her at mara.cepeda@rappler.com or tweet @maracepeda.