5 presidential bets confirm attendance in Mindanao debate

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday confirmed that all presidential candidates will attend the debate at Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro this Sunday.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a press conference that Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Grace Poe, Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel "Mar" Roxas II and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago have confirmed their attendance for the first official presidential debate since 1992.

The debate on Sunday will also be the first debate outside Metro Manila.

The upcoming debate will have a modified two-moderator format. Each presidential candidate will have a minute to deliver an opening statement.

Most of the questions on the Mindanao debate will focus on agriculture development, poverty reduction, charter change and peace and order.

The debate on Sunday will be the first of three presidential debates. The second will be on March 20 in Cebu and the third and final debate is on April 24 in Pangasinan.

The poll body earlier urged the voting public to send their questions for presidential candidates through social media.

"We will be crowd-sourcing many of the questions that will be asked during the debates," Comelec Chair Andy Bautista earlier said.

LIVE updates: Presidential debate in Mindanao