After being initially postponed, the presidential and vice presidential town hall debates organized by the Comelec will no longer push through, a poll official said Monday, citing scheduling conflicts with the candidates.
Pre-taped single candidate or team panel interviews will instead take place as the final event of the poll body's debate series, Comelec Commissioner George Erwin Garcia said.
ALSO READ: Know Your Election Candidates Through This Online Dashboard from Comelec
"The Commission on Elections, in partnership with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, has announced that the concluding event of the PiliPinas Debates 2022 Series will no longer be Vice-Presidential and Presidential Town Hall Debates," an advisory from Garcia read.
"In consideration of the inevitable scheduling conflicts as the candidates approach the homestretch of the campaign period, and as advised by the KBP, the Comelec will now be adopting a Single Candidate/Team - Panel Interview format," it added.
The interviews will be aired from May 2 to 6, with each candidate entitled to a one-hour panel interview. Candidates may choose to be interviewed with other bets, either face-to-face or virtual, Garcia said.
"Kung saan nila gusto o kung gusto nila virtual o face-to-face, kami mag-adjust," he added, noting that the Comelec will have the final say in the production, including editing.
The concluding event of the PiliPinas Debates 2022 was originally set to air on April 23 and 24, in which presidential and vice presidential candidates could be directly asked by the audience.
After its private co-organizer Vote Pilipinas reportedly failed to settle the payment with debate venue Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila on time, the poll body decided to postpone the debates to April 30 and May 1 now with the partnership of the KBP.
READ MORE:
Comelec Presidential, VP Debates: What You Need to Know
Bongbong Marcos: I'll Join Debates Only If My Schedule Permits