LIVE UPDATES: The second Comelec PiliPinas presidential debates

To conclude the night, the participating candidates were given one final minute to cap off their statements addressed to voters come election day, May 9.

Ernesto Abella

Naniniwala ako na ang Pilipinas ay may tawag at tadhana, na ang kahirapan ay hindi swerte o tadhana. Ang kahirapan ay dahilan sa mga maling polisya. 

So naniniwala po ako na pag nagkaisa tayo ay pwede po mabago ang bayan. Pwede po tayo magkaroon ng isang Pilipinas na makatarungan, mapayapa, at masaya.

Naniniwala po that if we make the right decisions, we can have a nation that’s worthy of Filipinos and Filipinos worthy of our nation

Leody De Guzman

“Sa ating mga kabaabyan, nasubukan na nating lahat ang mga politiko galing sa nasa tuktok ng ating lipunan, mula  sa hanay ng mga elitstia. 

Pero pagkatapos ng kanilang panunungkulan, naghahanap na tayo muli ng bagong lider dahil walang nagawa, palpak ang kanilang mga panunungkulan.  

Subukan natin ang ating magiging pangulo mula sa hanay ng manggagawa mula sa ibaba, hindi sa tuktok ng lipunan, kung gusto natin ng pagbabago.”

Norberto Gonzales

Ang pagbabago po ay hindi nagagawa sa pang madalian lamang. Kahit po tapos na ang eleksyon dapat ipinaglalaban natin ang pagbabago na ininanais natin sa ating bayan.

Kaya pinapakausap ko, kailangan na maipakita natin kung gaano kalakas ang nagbibigay suporta sa ating pangarap. Kahit tayo ay matalo, basta makita lang kung gaano na kadami ang nagsusulong na tunay na pagbabago sa bayan natin.”

Ping Lacson

The influence of money politics in this campaign and the opportunism and treachery that go with it, I keep asking the question: is the Filipino still worth fighting for? Each time, I always get the same answer: Yes, the Filipino is worth fighting for.

Sayang daw ang boto sa mas kwalipikado dahil baka hindi lang manalo. Ang totoo na sayang na boto ay para sa hindi karapat-dapat manalo at sa mga magnanakaw na dapat walang karapatan maluklok sa pwesto.

Maawa na po tayo sa ating kababayang Pilipino.

Faisal Mangandato

Ngayon ay ang ating ekonomiya ay mahianang mahina po dahil sa malaki ang apketo sa ating politika sa ating bansa. 

Dapat tayo ay magisip at itong lumang sistema ay dapat palitan na ng federalismo na maitawid natin ang ating mga kababayan na mamuhay ng mabuti sa ating bansa.”

Jose Montemayor

Una dapat magsama-sama tayo. United we stand but divided we fall. Ipasantabi muna natin ang lahat ng mga bagay na naghihiwalay sa atin.

Pangalawa po ay kailangan natin magdasal. Pray, pray, pray If God is for us, then who can be against us?

Isko Moreno

Mga kababyan, hanggang ngayon hindi ko sukat akalain na ako ay haharap sanyo ngayon. Sinong magaakala isang basurero ay kaya maging kandidato bilang pangulo?

I guarantee you, tayo po ay nasa krisis, ang kailangan natin ay crisis manager. My foreign policy is Filipino-first policy. Tayo muna, bansa muna. Setting priority, tao, kayo po

Itatawid nami kayo ni Doc Willie Ong, may awa ng Diyos at sa tulong ninyo, bigyan niyo ako ng pagkakataon na pamunuhin ang bansa,  itatawid nami kayo as crisis na yun.

Manny Pacquiao

Bayan, bakit si Manny Pacquiao? Pag kahirapan po ang usapan, hindi ito konsepto para kay Manny Pacquiao. Ito po ay dinanas ko.

Bayan, sinubukan na natin ang diploma ng Harvard, Boston, Georgetown, o Oxford. Hiling ko sa inyong lahat, subukan naman natin ang University of Makati and Philippien Christan University. 

Makita ninyo kung paano ko ipakulong ang mga kawatan diyan at paano ko paunlarin at bigyan ng opportunity ang bawat Pilipino lalong lalo na ang mga pamilya na walang sariling tahanan at hanapbuhay.

Leni Robredo

Ang tunay na lakas ay hindi nanggaling sa pera o makinarya kundi sa pagkakaisa ng taong bayan. Nasaksihan ko ito sa sa kababayan natin na araw araw nagbabanat ng buto para makamtan ang mga pangarap  na makuha nila. Nasaksikan ko 'to bawat sakuna, na nagbabayanihan para sumaklolo sa ating kapwa. Ngayon nasasaksihan ko to sa kampanya, sa mga nag-aattend ng rallies kahit pinagbinabawalan.

At dahilan ng lahat ng ito ay pagasa. pagasa ay tumutulak satin para mangarap at sa dulo ng kadiliman ay may kaliwanagan. 

At ngayong darating na halalan, ang tatanglaw sa buong bayan, ilaw ng tahanan.

The first group was asked, "Paano matataguyod ang pagtatayo at pagpapalaganap na 'renewable sources' of energy?"

Here are their answers:

Leody De Guzman

May batas na tayong dapat lumipat na sa renewable energy noong 2008 pa, kaya lang, walang political will ang ating gobyerno para ipatupad ito. Ang mas gusto kasi ng ating pamahalaan na nagpalit-palit, pagkakitaan talaga ang fossil fuel, ang coal plant.

Dapat magkaroon na ng matibay na desisyon upang bitiwan na ang coal plant dahil ito ang pinakamaruming source of energy. Ang ating bansa naman ay ipinagpala at napakaraming source of renewable energy.

Leni Robredo

Meron tayong obligasyon sa COP26 (2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference,) na dapat by 2050, carbon-neutral na tayo. Pero pag tiningnan natin, di pa klaro ang roadmap natin patungo sa 2050.

Dapat sana meron tayong after five years, after ten years, ano na ang energy mix natin. Dapat ayusin natin ang target milestones natin every few years at talagang klaro na papunta tayo sa pagiging carbon-neutral. Asikasuhin na ang service contracts, asikasuhin na ang renewables.

Ernesto Abella

Ang flagship program ng administration natin ay to make agriculture industry a mega-industry, kung saan talagang incorporated po ang transition from fossil fuels to renewables to develop, for example, solar, wind, turbine, and biomass. Unahin po natin ito.

While we're open for consideration sa nuclear, kaya lang, right now kasi there are risks involved, kailangan i-develop natin ang renewables.

Tapatan din natin na kailangan nating maging resilient nation, where we want to challenge those who are 18 to 35 years old to join the nation-building. Di lang po teorya o ideolohiya ang pinag-uusapan, pero kailangan din natin sila i-involve, like local peace corps.

The second group was asked, "Ano ang plano mo upang masiguro ang sapat at ligtas ang water supply para sa bansa?"

Here are their answers:

Isko Moreno Domagoso

We'll make this watershed protected. If we can rebuild and make it better for efficient use, it'll be two-pronged again: water for irrigation and water for energy source. I will invest in that.

Iyong ating mga existing na cooperative, whether pag-aari ng mga malalaking corporation, we will ask them to invest. Hindi pwedeng nahihirati na sila sa kita. If not, maybe I'll review their contracts.

Make sure that every Filipino household must have access to clean, potable water.

Norberto Gonzales

Nakikita natin medyo nagigipit tayo sa tubig. Palagay po meron pa po tayong panahon para di talaga mangyari iyan, kung tayo'y magho-homework lang tayo nang kaunti.

Noong ako'y maging defense secretary, ang una ko pong naharap na problema, kinatapos sa tubig. Pero noong tinanong ko ang mga eksperto, "Talaga bang kinakapos ng tubig?" Sa katotohanan po, 50% ng tubig na nanggagaling sa ating supplies ay natatapon kasi luma na ang mga tubo."

Ang mga dam natin, nag-aagawan ilan para sa mga agrikultura, ilan para sa bahay. Kailangan natin ng national planning.

Ping Lacson

Nasa 3.128 million hectares ang ating lupa, irrigable. Pero 66% pa lang ang irrigated. Ang cost sa pag-irrigate sa isang hectare, nasa P300,000. Kaya natin i-irrigate lahat.

Ang Israel, 2.2 million hectares, pero nag-e-export sila ng prutas. Bakit? Dahil [ayon] sa research, and development nila suportado ng gobyerno. Pero alam niyo ba ilan ang nasa research and development? Nasa 0.4% ng budget. Ang international standard, dapat nasa 2%.

The third group was asked, "Paano masisiguring napapangalagaan ang nutrisyon ng mga Pilipino lalo na ang mahihirap?"

Jose Montemayor

I-develop natin ang agrikultura natin. We'll go back to our competence. We cannot forever rely on other countries. Tanggalin na natin ang rice tarrification law. We'll be self-sufficient.

Manny Pacquiao

Kailangan natin tutukan ang PDC. Hindi po postdated check — production, distribution, consumption. Kaya tayo nagkakaroon shortage dahil 'di tayo nakatutok sa production. Ang gusto natin, mag-import nang mag-import. Nahihirapan at namamatay ang kabuhayan ng farmers at fisherfolks natin.

Puro walang budget ang ating gobyerno, pero bilyon-bilyon ang nananakaw sa gobyerno.

Faisal Mangondato

Kailangang-kailangan po ang food security sa lahat. Kung titingnan niyo ang General Appropriations Act, pangwalo lang ang agrikultura sa prayoridad ng gobyerno.

Ginugusto pa ng gobyerno na mag-angkat tayo sa ibang bansa. Kung titingnan natin ang ating dagat, ang lawak ng dagat natin. Dapat maglagay ng pondo sa agrikultura, dahil lalakas ang ating ekonomiya.

In light of extrajudicial killings, red-tagging, and impunity, the next segment of the debate asks how the nine candidates will balance the need to uphold human rights with other national issues.

For the first question, Ernesto Abella, Leody De Guzman, and Leni Robredo were asked, “Gaano kahalaga ang karpatang pantao?” 

Abella iterated his stance as a staunch supporter of the Duterte administration’s controversial War On Drugs, stating the issue can be addressed by “reducing demand, and reducing supply”.

For Labor leader De Guzman, “napaka importante ng karapatang taon.” He also cited that other countries have also put human rights on the forefront of development.

“Inabot na natin ang sibilisasdong lipunan, tapos na ang barbarismong situation ng unang panahon. Kaya dapat lang na  kilalanain natin yung pagbibigay ng mataas na pagkilala dun sa karaptang pantao.”

Dubbing the current administration’s War On Drugs as “kill, kill, kill,” the labor leader iterated that red-tagging and the anti-terror law must be put to a stop.

“Hindi puwede yung ginagawa ng kasalukuyang gobyerno na kill, kill, kill at ganyang patakaran sa mga bumabatikos sa kanya. Hindi puwede ang red-tagging, hindi puwede ang National Task Force ELCAC, dapat buwagin ang ganyang mga institusyon na nagpapalagnap ng limitasyon sa karapatang pangtao,” he stressed.

Robredo likewise stressed the importance of the “inherent” and “inheritable” human rights: “Ito ang pinaka basic na karaptan nating mga tao.”

In terms of the War On Drugs, she said that prevention and treatment are the keys in addressing the issue: “Kailangan inaasikaso natin, binibigyan ng opportunities yung mga kababayan natin.”

The Vice President also suggested for the country’s Dangerous Drugs Law or Republic Act No. 9165 be revisited.

As one of the authors of the Anti Terror Law (ATL), Ping Lacson said that the law had safeguards in place to ensure that human rights would not be stepped on in the act.

Lawyers and human rights activists have raised concern over the ATL, with the Supreme Court declaring two parts of the bill as “unconstitutional” in December of 2021.

Question: “Paano malaman ang katotohanan tungkol sa mga extrajudicial killings dala ng giyera laban sa droga?”

Senator Pacquiao said that he will continue to fight illegal drugs in the country similar to the current administration, but with provisions in place.

“Tuloy ang war on drugs pero di ko papatayin lahat ng mga user, ang ipapatay at ipublic ko pa yung mga pumapasok dito ng droga dahil sila ang salot, sila ang dapat parusahan,” Pacquiao said.

Faisal Mangondato, meanwhile, said that the War on Drugs has made it easy to forego due process.

“Nasasayang yung buhay ng isang tao,” he said. “Ang buhay ng pisang tao ay karaptan ng lahat ng Pilipino na dapat protekahan ng ating pamahalaan. Kung may kasalanan man sila, dalhin sila sa hustisya.” 

Montemayor likewise said that the administration has become “numb” to its countrymen with EJKs.

In a follow-up question, Drilon-Oreña asked how the candidates would go about the case of jailed Senator, Leila de Lima, who has been behind bars for over five years without trial.

Isko Moreno, Pacquiao, and Robredo said that the jailed senator deserves a day in court and due process will be practiced under their watch.

Question: Dapat ba palakasin ang Commission on Human Rights (CHR), particular sa ‘fiscal autonomy?’

Norberto Gonzalez said that it’s high time for the CHR to be provided more funding and additional necessary authorities. 

Meanwhile, As the sponsor of the budget of the CHR, Lacson said he’s been augmenting the agency’s funds.

“Dapat pong palakasin natin ang ginagawa. Dapat i-enhance natin, i-strengthen natin ang CHR. Kaya lang hindi natin sila pwede bigyan ng persecutirial powers,” the senator said.

Moreno said that ample funding ought to be given to the CHR under his administration. 

“‘Yung karaptang pangtao… is karapatan ng bawa’t Pilipino na mamuhay ng payapa, masagana, may oportunidad at pagkakpantay-pantay sa mata ng batas,” he said. “Hindi sa mga makapangyarihan lamang na nagbibigay ng pabor.”

He iterated that he will give De Lima the opportunity to defend herself in court. 

For the first group, they were asked, "Paano mo sisigurihin ang kapakanan ng mga migrant workers sa ASEAN?"

Manny Pacquiao said the Philippine government should protect the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), taking note of the newly-created Department of Migrant Workers, which is expected to start operations by 2023.

He also cited the OFW handbook, a reference and guide for OFWs about the labor conditions abroad.

As for independent foreign policy, he said the Philippines will "be a friend to all nations," noting that the United States will be a "best friend."

"We will not allow ourselves to be bullied by other countries," Pacquiao added.

For Jose Montemayor, the  ASEAN agreement is not only protection of OFWs but also the free practice of professions, noting that he's among the representatives of local doctors.

"Wala tayong problema as far as engaging with free trade with ASEAN nations," Montemayor said. "But ang question nagpo-point out sa undocumented OFWs."

He noted that undocumented OFWs are prone to abuses by their employers and the companies they work for. In this regard, he said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration should take charge.

As for criminal aspects involving OFWs, the Department of Foreign Affairs should step up, he added.

Leni Robredo, meanwhile, said that despite all the conventions and treaties the Philippines took part of, undocumented OFWs still lack the benefits documented ones have.

"Kailangan talaga magkaroon tayo ng masusing programa para  ma-incentivize iyong mga undocumented," Robredo said.

She stressed that OFWs who plan to retire are compelled not to go back home, as they'll lose the benefits they'd otherwise gain where they're staying.

"Sa mas long run, ang pinaka-target natin," Robredo said, "Lumalabas na lang ang mga kababayan natin out of choice, not by necessity."

For the second group, they were asked: "Paano mo makukumbinsi ang mga bansa sa ASEAN na magkaisa upang mapigilan ng militarisasyon ng Tsina sa West Philippine Sea?"

For Norberto Gonzales, it's high time for the ASEAN to come up with a position about it already.

"Ang problema po, iyong paggawa ng procedure sa ASEAN," Gonzales said. "Sa halip na consensus ang paggawa ng desisyon, dapat maging majority decision."

Ernesto Abella agreed with Gonzales, saying a majority decision would be better rather than a consensus. "Pwede naman kasing di i-confront directly ang malaking power nito, but can be done through consolidation."

Isko Moreno Domagoso, meanwhile, said not everybody will side with the Philippines for personal reasons. But he said going to the United Nations might just do the trick.

"Iboto niyo ako," he said, "I'll make sure na sisingilin ko ang bawat miyembro ng United Nations tungkol sa Hague ruling."

He also vowed not to have another repeat of the Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal incident when Chinese vessels attacked Filipino fishermen.

"We have to be certain with our rules so that this country will respect us," he said, referring to China.

For the third group, they were asked: "Ano ang inyong posisyon sa pagwawalang-bahala sa karapatang pantao sa ilang bansa sa ASEAN, halimbawa, sa Myanmar? Ano ang dapat maging aksyon ng ASEAN?"

For Faisal Mangondato, "Protektahan muna (ng gobyerno) ang kanilang tao sa Pilipinas bago magbigay ng galang sa ibang nasyon."

Leody de Guzman said the Philippines must condemn what's happening in Myanmar. But De Guzman noted that in our own soil, the government must be the first to be reminded about human rights.

"Dapat ang gobyerno natin mismo ay may respeto sa ating mamamayan," he said, adding that the government would have no credibility to condemn what's happening in Myanmar if it's not respecting the rights of the Filipino people.

Ping Lacson, meanwhile, noted that the country had been under Martial Law before, and we should be the first to know how to speak up against repression. But he noted that undergoing the dark period shouldn’t be the primary reason for condemning abuses in Myanmar.

"Ang Pilipinas, bilang kabahagi ng United Nations, kung di man makapanguna, sumali sa declaration ng ASEAN countries na itigil ng Myanmar ang represyon sa kanilang citizens,” Lacson said. “Tungkulin natin iyan dahil signatory tayo.”

For the second part of the debate, the nine candidates were split into groups of three to answer three separate questions.

For the first question, Ernesto Abella, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, and Manny Pacquiao answers the question, “Dapat bang manatlili ang political dynasty sa bansa ? Kung hindi, ano ang solusyon nito?”

Abella said that having a clear sense of a political party will be the key to removing political dynasties.

“Una una po ang mahalagang ang paglilinaw at pagkaklaro ng plataporma,” the former spokesperson said.

He iterated that “issue-based, not personality-based” candidates must be followed.

Lacson, meanwhile, cited the 1987 Constitution and said that an enabling law must be in effect to understand the degree the affinity of families within the government.

“Ang masamang duly ng political dynstaty nagpo-promote ito ng warlordism, lalo na są malalayong lugar na halos hindi aabot ng presence ng national government. Doon lumalabas ang abuso.”

Pacquiao said that in a democratic country, the people’s vote matters, however, families abuse the positions of power.

Without mentioning names, he also said, “Ang pinaka problema talaga yung mga nagsasamantala diyan, yung mga magnanakaw diyan,” the senator said, adding that those that don’t pay their taxes ought to be jailed.

Question: “Problema ba ang pagliipat-lipat ng mga kandidato sa iba’t ibang partido o alyansa?”

Robredo said that the candidates shifting parties weakens the country’s political party system, citing “political convenience” is simply followed in order to gain votes.

She added that the government must implement a law banning the act, revisit if the multi-party system is still working for the country, and uphold accountability in terms of electoral campaign violations.

Citing them as “political butterflies” Leody, said that it’s high time to focus on the clear platforms that candidates and their political parties they choose.

“Nagkakaroon ng palmpat-lipat ng mga politiko dahil isa naman ang agenda — pare-pareho para sa mga interes ng mga kapitalista, elitista,” The former labor leader said.

Likewise, Norberto Gonzales, said that it’s important for voters to understand the sentiments of their chosen candidates.

“Iba’t-ibang sistema pa, pati ang social system. Are we gonna be a humanistic society or not?” he said.

In his rebuttal of the topic, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said that it is “high time to implement a two-party system” to diversify the candidacy. Host Ces Drilon-Oreña reminded the mayor of a rebuttal.

Moreno departed from the National Unity Party and later joined Aksyon Demokratiko. During the Jan. 22 Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews, he said: “Basta ako, ang loyalty ko sa tao.”

Question: “Nararapat bang repormahin o tuluyang buwagin ang sistema ng paghalal ng mga party-list representatives?”

Montemayor Jr. said there’s no need to change the law, but rather change the intent of the party-list system. He added that the Supreme Court court should “polish their ranks” and revisit the definition of party list.

“Wag natin tanggalin 'tong party list system kundi balikan natin ang original definition and intent of the framers of the constitution. Ano yan, underrepresented,” Montemayor said. 

For Moreno, the party-list system should continue. However, regionalizing into a two-party system should be considerd to represent the marginalized communities.

“Napapanahon na na tayo ay bumalik sa two-party system,” the mayor said. “We elect the president at para di na magaway ang president at vice president, sabay silang mananalo.”

For the preliminary round, candidats were asked: "Sa tingin niyo ba, ang korupsiyon ay dulot ng kahinaan ng tao o kahinaan ng sistema?"

Citing data from the deputy Ombudsman in 2019, moderator Ces Oreña-Drilon noted that P700 billion has been lost in the government's coffers due to corruption.

She said the amount should've translated to 1.4 million housing projects for the benefit of the impoverished.

Oreña-Drilon reiterated Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s absence and how he lost the chance to answer the question.

"Dahil di tumugon si former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos sa imbitasyon sa debateng ito," she said, "Mr. Marcos loses the opportunity na sumagot sa mga katanungan at magbigay-linaw sa kaniyang position sa mga issue at mga plano ukol sa bansa."

Here are the thoughts of the nine presidential candidates present, in the order with which they answered:

Leody de Guzman

Sistema.

Pagtibayin natin ang mga nag-eexist na kasalukuyang batas, reinforce ang mga institusyon na naghahabol sa mga magnanakaw sa gobyerno.

Baguhin natin ang sistema...Kahit na mahigpit ang sistema, kung patuloy namang nakakapasok ang mga political dynasty o trapo, patuloy ang korupsiyon sa gobyerno

'Di na natin papayagan ang may mga kaso ng korupsiyon sa eleksiyon.

Isko Moreno Domagoso

Sistema.

We adapt to technology, tulad ng sistema sa Maynila. Binigyan namin ng pagkakataon na magbayad ang tao ng buwis nang wala siyang kinakausap na tao. 'Di na siya naging biktima ng fixer

Nagawa sa Manila, kayang gawin sa buong bansa.

Norberto Gonzales

We have to find out whether there's corruption sa sistema o ang naging sistema na ang nating corruption.

Maaaring kailangan nang baguhin ang Constitution natin. Kung gusto natin magkaroon ng matinong sistema, dapat ang pagpapatakbo sa gobyerno ay baguhin na rin. Parliamentary system, dahil pagkakaalam ko, lumalabas ang galing ng bawat namumuno.

Ping Lacson

Hindi po mahina ang sistema. Marami tayong mga batas at mga institution na tumatakbo.

Ang aking natutuhan sa Philippine Military Academy, leadership by example.

Meron po tayong anti-red tape act, government procurement act, Philippine competition act. Meron po tayong Ombudsman, meron tayong Sandiganbayan.

Ang kahinaan po wala sa sistema, kundi sa taong nagpapatupad... Dapat po nating palakasin ang sistema ng pamamalakad.

Faisal Mangondato

Maaaring sa kahinaan ng sistema, dahil luma na ang sistema natin.

Ang problema, palaging may sinasabing may corruption sa gobyerno. Maski po iyong tinawag sa mga project sa kalsada at tulay, mismong mga auditor po nasusuhulan. Di po nakukuha iyong tamang nakasaad sa batas.

Jose Montemayor

It's a combination of both.

Sa Pilipinas, maganda ang systems natin. Water-tight talaga. Kahit gaano kaganda ang sistema, kung ang attitude inherently corrupt, gagawa't gagawa ng paraan para lusutan ang batas.

There is a wide degree of discretion among public officers. Meron naman magaganda ugali, pero nadadala sa bad policies.

Manny Pacquiao

Pareho po.

Kailangan talaga natin ng leadership at political will. Ang gusto ko, iyong mga magnanakaw diyan, makita sa kulungan. Kaya dumadami ang mga magnanakaw kasi walang nakukulong.

Kung nagnakaw tapos ipinakulong agad, wala nang maghahangad pa na magnakaw.

Ang sama ng loob ko pag nakakakita ako na naghihirap at nagugutom, mga pamilyang walang opportunity. Sinisisi ko talaga ang mga kawatan sa gobyerno.

Give me six years, iyong ipagagawa kong megaprison, mapupuno iyon lahat.

Vice President Leni Robredo

Para sa akin, parehong may kahinaan.

Dapat ang sistema, pinipilit ang public officials to be good.

Merong tatlong sistema para mapilitan. Dapat accountability, iyong nagkakasala, napaparusahan.. Equally important, ang transparency at people empowerment.

Ang pinakauna kong ipapatupad ay full disclosure policy — all government officials will make public their transactions even without request.

Kasama rin ang pag-digitize para ma-minimize ang human contact.

Ernesto Abella

Ang corruption, tulad ng kahirapan, ay 'di dahil sa swerte. Ito ay dahil sa maling mga polisiya.

Dapat paigtingin ang sistema natin upang masagot ang problema ng corruption. It's one of the reasons why there's a big gap between the rich and the poor.

We need to include the civil society. They should get involved. Ito po ang challenge natin sa mga kababayan. Huwag natin ilagay lahat sa balikat ng presidente na solusyonan ang problema sa gobyerno.

Pwede po silang tumingin sa proseso, they can raise questions. There will be transparency.

The Commission on Elections has set up an empty podium for Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to denote his absence in its second presidential debates.

"Susunod dapat ay si former senator Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.," moderator Ces Oreña-Drilon said. "Pero hanggang ngayon, deadma pa rin siya sa imbitasyon ng Comelec."

In a chance interview earlier, reporters asked Marcos Jr. a categorical question whether he'll attend the debates.

Without giving a definite reply, he took a gander at the reporters around him for a few seconds, didn't say a word, and left the scene with his security detail.

He had also skipped the first presidential debates last March 19 for his campaign rally, with Comelec leaving an empty podium for him.

The hashtag #PiliPinasDebates2022 made it to the country's Twitter trending topics an hour before the start of the second presidential debate organized by the Commission on Elections.

Twitter trends tracker trends24 showed that #PiliPinasDebates2022 is No. 5 on the trending list as of 6:00 pm, with over 6,000 tweets bearing the hashtag as of writing.

With Manny Pacquiao arriving at the venue at 6:00 pm, it's already all systems go for the nine presidential candidates who earlier confirmed their attendance to the debate.

All 9 out of 10 candidates are now here. Briefing begins. pic.twitter.com/kCDGsJjGja

— COMELEC (@COMELEC) April 3, 2022

Similar to the first presidential debate last March 19, only Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. would be a no-show. He has yet to formally notify the Commission on Elections regarding his absence.

Comelec also shared a video of the nine attendees being briefed about the rules of the second presidential debate later at 7:00 pm.

The representatives of the presidential candidates drew lots to determine their groupings later on following changes in the debate format.

Representatives of each presidential candidate conducted the draw lots for the groupings of their candidates. During later’s debate, there will be groups of three for three segments. pic.twitter.com/OUEtonvQI9

— Greg Gregorio (@GVGregorio_TV5) April 3, 2022

The Commission on Elections said there will only be one general question for everybody at the start of the debate.

For the succeeding segments, candidates will be divided into groups of three, where each group will be given one question to debate. The groups will change with each segment.

Such a format will have four segments with three questions each.

Candidates will be given two minutes or 120 seconds to answer. They still have 30 seconds for rebuttals.

Presidentiable Ernesto Abella has arrived for the second Presidential Debate#PiliPinasDebates2022   #VoteSAFEPilipinas   #BumotoKa   #NLE2022 pic.twitter.com/pusCLJGppg

— COMELEC (@COMELEC) April 3, 2022

As of 5:40 p.m., eight out of nine presidential candidates are already present. Manny Pacquiao will be the last to arrive at the debates venue.

“Mabubura na parang bula.”

This was the warning of presidential candidate Isko Moreno Domagoso about the P203 billion estate tax of the Marcoses should rival Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. win the presidency.

Presidentiable Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso is now at the venue #PiliPinasDebates2022 #VoteSAFEPilipinas #BumotoKa #NLE2022 pic.twitter.com/v6FCvytTCn

— COMELEC (@COMELEC) April 3, 2022

"Most of you have already paid or are paying their taxes," Domagoso told reporters ahead of the presidential debates. "Buti pa kayo. Sana all."

He also cited the case of an 80-year-old man from Pangasinan who was arrested for allegedly stealing 10 kilos of mangoes.

“Dahil di niya alam iyong batas, nakulong siya,” the Manila mayor said of the arrested man. “Pero iyong P203 billion na maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw, na Supreme Court said na due na for our country, baka mawala iyan na parang bula.”

Presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo is the sixth to arrive for the second COMELEC-led presidential debate. #BilangPilipino2022 (via News5/Greg Gregorio) pic.twitter.com/2JMX8UUUFn

— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) April 3, 2022

Ping Lacson said he's more relieved than disappointed that he’ll be running as an independent candidate for the May 9 polls.

Next to arrive is presidentiable Sen. Ping Lacson#PiliPinasDebates2022 #VoteSAFEPilipinas #BumotoKa #NLE2022 pic.twitter.com/V47PkVmEEn

— COMELEC (@COMELEC) April 3, 2022

Lacson recently left his political party Partido Reporma, which later on endorsed the presidential bid of Leni Robredo, who's also running as an independent.

"Mas magaan, actually," Lacson told reporters ahead of the second presidential debates. "Menos gastos."

He added that he’ll rely on his stock knowledge to answer today’s questions, which will revolve around foreign relations, government accountability, and safety and security.

Lacson is the fifth candidate to arrive at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent in Pasay, after Jose Montemayor, Leody de Guzman, Faisal Mangondato, and Norberto Gonzales.

As of 4:45pm, four out of nine presidential candidates who confirmed their attendance have already set foot in the debate's venue. These are Leody de Guzman, Leody de Guzman, Mangondato, and Norberto Gonzales.

Presidentiable Norberto Gonzales has arrived#PiliPinasDebates2022 #VoteSAFEPilipinas #BumotoKa #NLE2022 pic.twitter.com/gdCGl5C3lD

— COMELEC (@COMELEC) April 3, 2022

Presidentiable Faisal Mangondato is here#PiliPinasDebates2022 #VoteSAFEPilipinas #BumotoKa #NLE2022 pic.twitter.com/3NhnXDnxTN

— COMELEC (@COMELEC) April 3, 2022

The Commission on Elections shared a photo of labor leader Leody de Guzman arriving at the second presidential debates venue.

Presidentiable Ka Leody de Guzman has arrived#PiliPinasDebates2022 #VoteSAFEPilipinas #BumotoKa #NLE2022 pic.twitter.com/OiAWt00B9Z

— COMELEC (@COMELEC) April 3, 2022

In a report from News5, De Guzman said he has no experience with the topic of government accountability, although he noted that he’ll share his insights as a labor leader.

Cardiologist and lawyer Jose Montemayor is the first presidential candidate to show up at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent in Pasay, where the second presidential debates will take place at 7:00pm. 

Presidential candidate Jose Montemayor, Jr. is the first to arrive at Sofitel for the second COMELEC-led presidential debate. Montemayor, Jr. still hopes that fellow candidate Bongbong Marcos would show up to debate on “government accountability.” (via News5/Greg Gregorio) pic.twitter.com/qdCkwIffEo

— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) April 3, 2022

Montemayor told reporters on the ground that he's expecting rival bet Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to show up later, noting that someone running for president is "accountable" to the Filipino people. 

"I do not know his intention why he skipped this very important topic of accountability," Montemayor said. "You are accountable for the people."

Sunday's debates will revolve around foreign relations, government accountability, and safety and security. 

"I am expecting that he will attend this," Montemayor said of the late dictator's son and namesake, "even at the last minute."

Montemayor became the talk of the town during the first presidential debate last March 19 for stating untruths on air.

He falsely claimed that the Inter-Agency Task Force is headed only by lawyers in addition to saying that COVID-19 vaccines will expose people to infection. Without basis, he said workers supposedly have low morale because of the COVID-19 vaccination card requirement.

Vote Pilipinas, the Commission on Elections (Comelec)'s official voter information campaign partner, has posted a photo of the debates stage already set for tonight's event.

"We’re only a few hours away from the second presidential debate!" Vote Pilipinas said in its post. "The stage is all set for the nine candidates attending."

Everyone but Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. neither confirmed nor denied if he'll attend the event. The rest of the presidential bets who were present in the first presidential debate last March 19 have already confirmed their attendance later on.

Marcos Jr. is expected to have an empty podium denoting his absence like in the first presidential debate, as Comelec is setting up podiums for everybody nonetheless.

Vote Pilipinas also shared a photo of award-winning journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon, the second presidential debate's moderator, gearing up for later.