We know that the PiliPinas 2016 Presidential Debate is a step forward in helping voters get to know the five candidates vying for the highest position in the land, but could this series of debates be tainted with politics and self-interest too?
The first one was held at the Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro on Feb 21, with three rounds.
First, the candidates were asked about their track record and performance. The second round focused on poverty and development, while the third tackled issues about Mindanao.
Minda News took note that the program lasted for one hour and 35 minutes — but 48 minutes of that was for paid advertisements.
That means only 87 minutes were given for the candidates to speak up about their platforms.
There were 117 ads spread across six breaks of eight minutes each.
Jejomar Binay, Grace Poe and former Mar Roxas had two ad placements each, while Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago only had one. Duterte had none, though he generated the most buzz on Twitter.
Other candidates like Francis Tolentino and Martin Romualdez — both are running for senator — also placed ads.
