Comelec says no more town hall debates, sets taped interviews with candidates

Presidential candidates attend the first round of Comelec-sponsored Pilipinas Debates 2022 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila tent in Pasay City on Saturday, March 19, 2022.

Philstar.com / Deejae Dumlao

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections said Monday it will no longer hold its final presidential and vice presidential town hall debates and will instead air pre-taped interviews of poll candidates.

The concluding event of the PiliPinas Debates 2022 Series was supposedly scheduled on April 30 and May 1 after it was postponed over payment issues involving private firm Impact Hub Manila, which organized the previous debates. The debates were initially set on April 23 and 24.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said the poll body will adopt a single candidate or team panel interview format in consideration of the “inevitable scheduling conflicts as the candidates approach the homestretch of the campaign period” and as advised by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas. KBP agreed to organize the final two events.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/04/25/2176629/comelec-says-no-more-town-hall-debates-sets-taped-interviews-candidates