Comelec to hold debates for VP bets

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday assured that it will also hold debates for vice presidential and local candidates.

During the Senate finance committee hearing on the Comelec's proposed budget for 2016, Comelec Chair Andres Bautista said that the debates would give the voters an opportunity to know the candidates better.

”It is time to change the king of politics in our country. The voters should learn how to choose candidates based on their platforms of government,” Bautista said.

Bautista added that the commission allotted budget for the holding of debates.

The Comelec has created a technical working group to study the mechanics and to adopt the best practices of presidential debates.

According to a report, Bautista said that the technical working group has been coordinating with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas to air the presidential and vice presidential debates live on radio and television.

Three presidential debates will be held in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The Comelec last held presidential debates in the 1992 national elections.