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
Sotto: PH should be able to manufacture its own vaccines
Vice presidential candidate Tito Sotto makes a point about boosting local manufacturing for items like PPE, syringes, etc. There are local players here who made big investments but the government sidelined them and opted for imports.
Serapio’s closing statement
For his final word, Serapio says that in order to finally achieve progress, the people should realize the power that they possess and acknowledge God who will enlighten the people towards a bright future. | via @GabrieIJosephB #PiliPinasDebates2022 #PHVote https://t.co/0BmvCdiVSD
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
Sotto’s closing statement
.@sotto_tito on what skills he possess to fulfill VP duties: Katapatan, kakayahan katapangan- ‘yan po ang dala-dala ko sa pagharap sa inyo. | via @_lorenzpasion #PiliPinasDebates2022 #PHVote https://t.co/0BmvCdiVSD
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
.@sotto_tito: I am tired of making laws that are not implemented properly. Kaya andito po kami humaharap. | via @_lorenzpasion #PiliPinasDebates2022 #PHVote https://t.co/0BmvCdiVSD
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
.@sotto_tito: ‘Yun pong opisina ng pangalawang pangulo ay hindi ko po pagpapraktisan. Hindi po ako mangangapa. Ang karanasan ko po na 30 taon sa public service ay sapat na. | via @_lorenzpasion #PiliPinasDebates2022 #PHVote https://t.co/0BmvCdiVSD
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
Sotto: Pagkatiwalaan 'nyo po ako, hindi ko po kayo ipapahiya. | via @_lorenzpasion #PiliPinasDebates2022 #PHVote https://t.co/0BmvCdiVSD
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
Lopez’s closing statement
For his closing statement, Lopez reiterates that he will fully commit to support the next president. He says that as vice president, he will be prepared to step up should an emergency happen to the country’s top official. | via @GabrieIJosephB #PiliPinasDebates2022 #PHVote
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
David’s closing statement
For his closing remarks, David calls for a grand coalition among fellow candidates to defeat the Marcos-Duterte tandem.
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
“Let us defeat Marcos and let us defeat Duterte together.” | via @GabrieIJosephB #PiliPinasDebates2022 #PHVote https://t.co/0BmvCdiVSD
Ong’s closing statement
In his closing remark, Ong says, "Ang goal ko lang ay humaba ang buhay 'nyo."
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
Ong: Wala po akong campaign funds, hindi po ako naninira kahit kanino.
He also thanks standard-bearer Isko Moreno for choosing him as the VP.
Bello’s closing statement
For his closing statement, @WaldenBello says he and @LeodyManggagawa are different from other politicians.
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
He reiterates what they call for: P750 minimum wage and political reforms. | via @jairojourno #PiliPinasDebates2022 #PHVote https://t.co/0BmvCdiVSD
Bello’s closing statement is consistent with his platform. He calls for raising the national minimum wage, the wealth tax, decriminalizing abortion, and passing same-sex marriage. | via @_sofiaguanzon #PiliPinasDebates2022 #PHVote https://t.co/0BmvCdiVSD
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
The Bello-De Guzman tandem is championing for democratic socialism to work towards social development. Read more about their platform and what this means here: https://t.co/TGULDDeIoc
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
Serapio asks: Is there monopoly of economic power?
Serapio asks: Is there monopoly of economic power? If that is the case, we may find it difficult to solve corruption. @sotto_tito cites the need for budget reform in order to address this. | vi @GabrieIJosephB #PiliPinasDebates2022 #PHVote https://t.co/0BmvCdiVSD
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022
Create anti-corruption agency? Internal cleansing in gov’t is better – Sotto
The government doesn’t have to create a single anti-corruption agency to cleanse its ranks, Senate President and vice presidential candidate Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said during the Comelec debate on Sunday, March 20.
“The government is too large for a single body [to watch]. What we need is internal cleansing. We must lead by example,” Sotto said.
Just like in previous debates, Sotto highlighted the leadership style of his partner and Partido Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo Lacson. He said Lacson got rid of kotong cops – extortionist policemen – when he was head of the Philippine National Police because he led by example.
Sotto said digitalization of government files and operations is central to the Lacson-Sotto anti-corruption platform.
“’Yung digitalization, pinakamagandang example ’yung Bureau of Customs eh. Ang dami na naming ibinigay na budget dun sa Bureau of Customs eh. Hindi nabubuo ’yung digitalization eh. Bakit? Eh gusto nila may human intervention eh. ‘Pag may human intervention, andun ang taga. Kaya we must digitalize,” Sotto said.
(With regards to digitalization, the best example is the Bureau of Customs. We have given so much budget to the Bureau of Customs, but they have yet to fully digitalize. Why? Because they want human intervention. It is with human intervention that they are able to make money. That is why we must digitalize.)
Pangilinan: ‘Not enough time’ to pass anti-political dynasty bill
.@kikopangilinan says he was the principal sponsor of the anti-political dynasty measure in the Senate, which got a majority of senators' support, but there was "not enough time" to pass it. | via @michelleabad_ #PiliPinasDebates2022 #PHVote https://t.co/0BmvCdiVSD
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 20, 2022