The presidential debate will be face to face with virtual audiences, according to COMELEC.
COMELEC — The Commission on Elections said on Thursday that the presidential debate will be face-to-face with virtual audiences.
Earlier, COMELEC said that the poll body was eyeing a “hybrid” debate in the upcoming elections due to the threat of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez said that aspirants for the upcoming 2022 elections will debate face-to-face with virtual audiences.
“They wouldn’t be, the candidates will be in the same place, they will be debating in person, but the audience will be virtual,” Jimenez said in an interview on CNN Philippines as he dismissed rumors that the debates will be conducted online because of new coronavirus-related restrictions.
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Some of the presidential aspirants have expressed willingness to participate in a face-to-face presidential debate in order to allow voters to get to know them better.
Jimenez also said that they’re looking to have 6 debates: 3 for presidential candidates and 3 for vice-presidential candidates.
“This time, we are hoping to expand the number of vice-presidential debates seeing as how vice presidents are elected independently of the president,” Jimenez said.
Meanwhile, the poll body will regulate the number of people who can participate in in-person campaigns in the 2022 elections.
Jimenez confirmed that COMELEC guidelines for the campaign period will soon be released, primarily containing modifications on the capacity of in-person campaigns that will depend on the alert level system in the area.
The poll official already said last Tuesday that there will be “major changes” in the conduct or campaign for next year’s national and local elections.
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