WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Nearly all presidential and vice-presidential candidates are set to square off during CNN Philippines’ debates from 5 to 7 pm on Saturday, February 26 (for vice-presidential bets) and Sunday, February 27 (for presidential bets).
Nine presidential candidates and seven vice-presidential bets have confirmed their attendance as of February 18, CNN Philippines said. Hosted by CNN Philippines anchors, the debates are slated to take place at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, live and in person.
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
[In The Running] Candidates’ answers on foreign policy, Russia-Ukraine crisis
Moreno had mentioned that he will stay 'neutral for now' on Russia-Ukraine crisis as he will prioritize pandemic response in PH.
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) February 28, 2022
.@sofiatomacruz asks, "What then will you do if you have to juggle more than one problem?" #PHVote #WeDecide
WATCH: https://t.co/iy8vNTgoXW
LOOK: Robredo removes heels, walks barefoot after CNN Philippines debate
Presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo was pictured walking barefoot after her performance in the CNN Philippines presidential debate.
“True leadership is stepping up and showing up…even if it means standing in heels for three hours,” her staff posts on her Twitter.
During the program, the candidates were asked what the importance of debates were. Robredo said the number one ingredient in leadership, aside from character, is “you show up, in the most difficult times.”
The answer is reminiscent of Robredo’s response to a question in an earlier interview with entertainment host Boy Abunda, who asked her why voters shouldn’t vote for the survey frontrunner, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. “In the difficult moments, hindi siya nagpapakita (he doesn’t show up),” Robredo said in the January 26 program.
LIST: Plans Lacson failed to share in time-constrained CNN PH debate
While Senator Panfilo Lacson believes in the value of attending presidential debates, such as the one mounted by CNN Philippines on Sunday, February 27, he also groaned about the constraining time limit for candidates to respond to questions or rebut charges against them.
A stickler for details, Lacson usually takes his time in setting up the context of a problem or issue, showing that he has a grasp of it before he offers his own solution. This worked against him in Sunday’s debate as he ran out of time on several instances before he could present his answers.
Considering the issues tackled during the CNN PH debate, here is what Senator Lacson failed to present, based on his previous interviews and his past actions as a senator.
Read the full story here.
[In The Running] No mention of lack of healthcare personnel for Isko Moreno
.@sofiatomacruz says it's 'curious' how Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, with a doctor for a running mate, keeps talking about building more hospitals but does not mention about the lack of healthcare personnel. #PHVote #WeDecide
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) February 28, 2022
WATCH: https://t.co/iy8vNTgoXW
[In The Running] Robredo enumerates OVP’s pandemic response
.@sofiatomacruz mentions how VP Leni Robredo is 'practically out of breath' enumerating the things her office did in the first days, months that followed when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. #PHVote #WeDecide
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) February 28, 2022
WATCH: https://t.co/iy8vNTgoXW
[In The Running] On BongBong Marcos’ absence
.@jnery_newsstand: Because he's not a very good debater, I think the strategy now is 'less talk, less mistakes.' #PHVote #WeDecide
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) February 28, 2022
WATCH: https://t.co/iy8vNTgoXW
[In The Running] On Jose Montemayor claiming to be an economist
.@jcpunongbayan on Jose Montemayor claiming to be an economist: From the answers that he gave, sorry to say, mali-mali 'yung appreciation niya sa economic issues. #PHVote #WeDecide
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) February 28, 2022
WATCH: https://t.co/iy8vNTgoXW
[In The Running] Who stood out in the debate for Rappler’s John Nery?
.@jnery_newsstand said VP Leni Robredo and Senator Ping Lacson stood out in the debate, as well as Ka Leody de Guzman for his zinger on Jose Montemayor. #PHVote #WeDecide
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) February 28, 2022
WATCH: https://t.co/iy8vNTgoXW