WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) organized two debates, ahead of the May 9 polls, to help the public scrutinize candidates running for the vice presidency.
Both taking place at Sofitel Philippine Plaza, the first vice-presidential debate is scheduled on March 20, while the other is set to be held on April 23. Seven out of nine vice-presidential bets have confirmed their attendance as of March 13.
Who deserves to be the country’s vice president?
Scroll down this page for live updates, context, analyses, and fact checks from Rappler as the debates unfold. Further down the page, click “load more.”
LATEST UPDATES
[Rappler Recap] Who did not win tonight?
Who did not win tonight
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
.@jnery_newsstand: I was expecting SP Tito Sotto to do much better…. He is within striking distance of Sara Duterte. We’ve seen this sudden move for people to coalesce around a common candidate.#RapplerRecap https://t.co/o7XuksOfJW
.@jnery_newsstand: I've seen SP Sotto preside over conference…. He's much more charismatic in those occasions. It's an average performance, I would say.#RapplerRecap https://t.co/o7XuksOfJW
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
Lopez: Bayanihan spirit propelled pandemic mitigation
VP candidate Manny Lopez says the Filipinos’ bayanihan spirit propelled better mitigation of COVID-19 pandemic. He also calls for better health systems in the country.
[Rappler Recap] John Nery: Most consistent critique was Bello
.@jnery_newsstand: The most consistent critique was Walden Bello.
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
Bello earlier addressed the Comelec questioning the 'lame' punishment by the body for candidates who are absent without justifiable reason. #RapplerRecap https://t.co/o7XuksOfJW
Ong: PH needs to address common diseases, too
VP candidate Willie Ong says the country needs to look out for other common diseases and put up more infectious diseases hospitals in order to address other possible variants of COVID-19.
[Rappler Recap] How did Sara Duterte’s absence impact VP debate?
How did the absence of frontrunner Sara Duterte impact tonight's debate?@jnery_newsstand: The absence of the frontrunner had real impact in the debate. Duterte is starting to feel the consequences of not showing up. Her rivals really attacked her.#RapplerRecap
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
‘I won’t use the OVP as training ground’ – Sotto
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, the most senior in government among vice presidential candidates for 2022, highlighted his three decades in public service as a final pitch for bid at Comelec’s PiliPinas debates on Sunday, March 20.
“‘Yun pong opisina ng pangalawang pangulo ay hindi ko po pagpapraktisan. Hindi po ako mangangapa. Ang karanasan ko po na tatlumpung taon sa public service ay sapat na,” Sotto said.
(I won’t make the Office of hte Vice President my training ground. I will not be groping my way in the dark. My experience during my 30 years in public service is enough.)
The Senate President said that he knows the problems of the country as well as the plight of Filipinos living in poverty, and he knows how to solve them.
“I am tired of making laws that are not implemented properly,” Sotto said.
He cited the Filipinos’ trust in him, and said he would not let them down. Various polls have shown over the years that Sotto has the highest trust and performance rating among top officials of the land next to President Rodrigo Duterte.
Comelec wraps up its first VP debate
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— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
Pangilinan’s closing statement
Up to his closing statement, Pangilinan brings up advocacy for food security, years of experience as a senator. Says he is prepared even if he is needed to step up to the presidency in case of an emergency.
— Michelle Abad (@michelleabad_) March 20, 2022
"Sa VP race, nawa'y the last man standing is a farmer." @rapplerdotcom
WATCH: Comelec chair Saidamen Pangarungan holds press briefing
Comelec chair Saidamen Pangarungan holds a press briefing shortly after the vice presidential debates held on Sunday, March 20.