#TheLeaderIWant: Rappler’s 2nd senatorial debate set for April 15

MANILA, Philippines – How well do you know your senatorial bets’ plans and policies?

With the May polls just a few weeks away, candidates for the Senate need to go beyond generalities and motherhood statements to convince voters why they should be elected to be the next batch of lawmakers.

To help voters understand where their preferred bets stand on the pressing issues of the day, Rappler and its partner organizations are holding a series of senatorial debates that aim to flesh out candidates’ plans and platforms.

Rappler held the first leg of the debates at the AMA University in Quezon City on April 8.

On Friday, April 15, during the second debate, 6 candidates are set to take the hot seat at the UP School of Economics Auditorium from 3 pm to 5:30 pm: 

• Sherwin Gatchalian, Valenzuela representative and former mayor of Valenzuela City
• Leila de Lima, former justice secretary and former head of the Commission on Human Rights
• Risa Hontiveros, former PhilHealth director and former Akbayan representative
• Richard Gordon, former senator and chairman of the Philippine Red Cross
• Dionisio Santiago, former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff
• Walden Bello, economist and former Akbayan representative

For the first part of the debate, candidates will be given 3 minutes to answer this question: Why are you #TheLeaderIWant?

In the Issues Q & A segment, candidates will have 3 minutes to answer a question chosen by Rappler based on the candidate’s track record and advocacy. Another candidate can comment on the first speaker’s answer for 90 seconds, and the person in the hot seat can present a rebuttal for 90 seconds.

Netizens will also have the chance to pose questions. Rappler will crowdsource questions from the audience.

To be streamed live on Rappler, the debate will also reach television viewers through Media ng Bayan-PTV4’s 14 stations all over the country.

Netizens can also follow updates on social media and join in the conversations. As the debate proceeds, you can react to the candidates’ answers by joining Rappler’s online poll and voting on Rappler’s mood meter on rappler.com/phvote.

The event is open to UP students. For those interested to attend the debate, register via Eventbrite below.

The 3rd senatorial debate will be held on April 22 at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. – Rappler.com